Bok skipper looks to make amends
WEATHER: COLD, WET CONDITIONS IN STORE FOR SQUAD
Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth (above) believes there will be extra motivation for the side against Italy in Padova this afternoon quite apart from making amends for last year’s surprise defeat.
Four members of the side will leave the squad after this weekend because next week’s Wales Test in Cardiff falls outside the international window.
Lock Franco Mostert and flyhalf Elton Jantjies will return to Japan, flank Francois Louw to Bath and No 8 Duane Vermeulen to Toulon.
“We are losing four guys, so ideally we want to send them off with a good Bok memory before they go back to their clubs,” he said yesterday.
Still looking to rediscover their mojo after the narrow 1817 win over France last weekend, their first since the 41-23 away win over Argentina in Salta in the Rugby Championship, though Etzebeth believes it was just the right injection.
And while veteran Italian captain Sergio Parisse played a big part in the Bok defeat last year, Etzebeth said Italy are about more than just him.
“The focus remains the same as against France,” Etzebeth said. “We can’t just focus on just one guy. It takes a team effort to get a result, and that’s been our point of view.”
With flank Pieter-Steph du Toit replacing Siya Kolisi at flank, their back row has been reshuffled for the umpteenth time, but Etzebeth believes it will have its benefits.
“Pieter-Steph is a great lineout option and he brings a few kilograms extra with him, and while we will miss Siya, who went home for the birth of his second child, Pieter-Steph will add something extra,” he said.
Etzebeth had been doubtful following a leg injury, but said he is 100% to captain the side for a 10th time in his 66th Test.
“The problem seemed to be just under my knee in the lower leg but the scans showed nothing,” he said.
The Springboks get the perfect opportunity to set the record straight as they revisit the country which was the scene of one of the worst moments in their history.
Although they play Italy in Padova today, they need no second reminder of one of their worst moments when they went down 20-18 in Florence last year.
But the Boks sidestepped the term “revenge” this week as coach Allister Coetzee talked up the Azzurri, coached by Irishman Conor O’Shea and veteran captain Sergio Parisse.
“We respect the Italian side, they are well-coached and I know they will be up for the challenge,” said Coetzee.
“We focus on ourselves and a disciplined and clinical performance is what is needed this weekend.”
With just four players playing in their 12th consecutive Test match of the season – Andries Coetzee, Courtnall Skosan, Eben Etzebeth and Steven Kitshoff, should he be used as a substitute – the continuity hasn’t actually been as great as generally preached.
With cold and wet conditions of 11 degrees predicted, renewed questions will be asked of the very average Bok kicking game of flyhalf Handre Pollard and fullback Andries Coetzee.
“It would be important for our pack to again create a good platform off which to play and therefore our set-piece will be key in the expected wet conditions,” said Coetzee.
Having not yet set the world alight on tour with a 38-3 hammering by Ireland followed by a narrow 18-17 win over France, more fluency, especially in the toothless and predictable backline attack will be welcomed with open arms.
But strangely, no changes were made in the backline, with flank Pieter-Steph du Toit and hooker Bongi Mbonambi the only changes up front.
Mbonambi will be keen to show he deserves his starting chance ahead of Malcolm Marx, but his work will be cut out to even remotely meet the high standards set by Marx.
The side could have done with the creativity of a Lukhanyo Am at centre, so therefore one hopes that fullback Warrick Gelant gets a decent run from the bench – a mere three or five minutes will ask even more questions of the coach’s already questionable mindset.
Kick-off: 3pm (SA time)