Springboks chase rare double
KOLISI: SPRINGBOK CAPTAIN IS LOOKING TO CLOSE THE GAP ON ALL BLACKS
‘We want to do it for the fans because we’ve all been hurting’.
With tension and expectations rising sky-high ahead of today’s anticipated rematch between the Springboks and the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld, national captain Siya Kolisi believes it has created another opportunity for his side to narrow the gap on the best team in world rugby.
While the All Blacks will be keen to prove their status was not under threat after the Boks shocked them in Wellington last month, Kolisi believes this game could have been targeted by the visitors even before their rare defeat.
“We have noticed that they made a few changes to their side and we have heard they are revved up for this contest, and that this is actually the game they really want to do well in,” the skipper said.
“They won last week in Argentina and also clinched the (Rugby) Championship, but we believe they also want to perform well in this Test and end their campaign on a high.”
Kolisi, who has captained the side to five wins in eight Tests, felt the rivalry between the two teams was so big that they could not approach this game as a buildup match ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“I don’t know if we will do that because it’s still a long time away, so the focus is on Loftus, but obviously the coaches are building towards Japan,” he said.
“They are bringing in new guys and testing combinations to give everybody a fair opportunity in order for him (Rassie Erasmus) to have the best idea of the players he should take over there.
“But for us, we just try to deliver our best in every Test and try to build momentum in the build-up to the World Cup.”
Kolisi lauded the SA team’s fans for their support, which he felt had made a huge difference to their preparations for this weekend’s crunch game.
“We could understand after we suffered two losses that the supporters were hurting, but it’s because they felt something for the team that they were hurting, and we know because we were also hurting,” Kolisi said.
“We saw the support last weekend (against Australia) in PE and it really lifted the team, and now we’ve seen again how the Loftus Test has been sold out and it means a great deal to us.
“Regardless of winning or losing, we will always just do the best we can to make the country proud.” Kick-off: 5.05pm
It could be a belated birthday present for coach Rassie Erasmus if the Springboks are able to defy the odds at a jam-packed Loftus Versfeld today by achieving the almost unthinkable and inflicting back-to-back defeats on the All Blacks for the first time in nine years.
The message from the Kiwi camp was quite clear this week: they wanted to rectify the “wrongs” of their recent loss in Wellington and would not make the same mistake by underestimating the Boks again.
While the Boks had won 27 of 35 previous Tests at Loftus, they have lost their last four games against New Zealand there, and have beaten the Kiwis just 13 times in 48 Rugby Championship clashes.
The biggest dangers in the All Black side were no doubt fullback Ben Smith, and wings Waisake Naholo and Rieko Ioane, who can inflict real damage with the potential space created by centre Sonny Bill Williams and flyhalf Beauden Barrett.
Erasmus, who celebrated his 46th birthday yesterday, said it was a given that the All Blacks would be relentless in their approach after the Boks earned a shock 36-34 win last month.
He also believed coach Steve Hansen would have planned meticulously with their pride on the line, despite the match’s dead rubber status, with New Zealand having again secured the Rugby Championship title.
“Steve and his team obviously have done some work on us and obviously saw some areas where they can attack us,” Erasmus said.
“And being the top coaches they are, they will have a definite plan. And against the best team in the world, experience and composure will be vital.”
Not only do the Boks have a massive physical and defensive battle on their hands, but the tactical nous in the kicking of flyhalf Handre Pollard, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and fullback Willie le Roux in his 50th Test were set to be scrutinised.
In addition, referee Angus Gardner was the same official who nailed the Boks at the breakdown in their recent 32-19 defeat to Argentina in Mendoza.
“If we win it will be great, but I must admit tactically we struggled a bit in the last three games and we struggled to get out of our territory,” Erasmus said.
“Another win will be a massive boost, but it’s much easier said than done. We can’t just talk about it; we have to actually go and do it.”
In both their last two Test vic- tories over New Zealand and Australia, the Boks were worse off when it came to the possession and territory stakes, which could put them under even more defensive pressure in today’s class.
“It’s not a case that we don’t want the ball. The opposition just keep it longer and then we have to tackle more,” Erasmus said.
“But it’s something we have worked on and I believe it will be better because on the Highveld, against the back three they have chosen, our defence will have to be at its best.”