FOCUS ON FITNESS
BOKS: CONDITIONING ‘NOT TO BLAME’ FOR LOFTUS LOSS
Under Walters’ strict regime, players have been the fittest they’ve been for a long time, says Kriel.
The Springboks’ tendency to lose close matches against the All Blacks at the death again came to the fore after their last-minute defeat at Loftus last week, with questions again being raised about the conditioning of the side.
At least three players – fullback Willie le Roux (concussion), scrumhalf Faf de Klerk (cramps) and prop Frans Malherbe (fatigue) – had to be replaced late in the game by a bench that probably lacked the experience of their New Zealand opposition.
However, highly rated Bok conditioning coach Aled Walters, whose official title was “head of athletic performance”, had followed Bok coach Rassie Erasmus from Munster and the team’s recent win over the All Blacks in Wellington testified that their conditioning had greatly improved.
“It’s vital to simulate match related situations when conducting strength and conditioning exercises,” Walters said.
Bok centre Jesse Kriel paid Walters a compliment by lauding the team’s fitness.
“We have been the fittest that we have been in a very long time and able to play for 80 minutes, and we train at the intensity that we would face in match situations,” Kriel said.
“We also have bench players that we like to call finishers, so Aled deserves great credit.”
Erasmus felt it was the clinical nature of the All Blacks’ intensity to close out matches which proved the difference.
“That’s New Zealand’s culture,” Erasmus said.
“That’s how they do things and that’s where we have to get to. We will learn from this.”
All Black coach Steve Hansen also believed it was their game management, rather than conditioning, which pulled them through.
“You think back to how we didn’t manage that (recent Wellington) game well, but I think Kieran (Read) and the leaders can take lots of pleasure and satisfaction in how they managed this game,” Hansen said.
“It could have easily been one we let go and allowed them to win, but we dug in deep and refused to give up and sometimes, if you keep knocking on the door, someone will open it and you can come in.”
Time to rest weary bones before tour to Britain begins.
Despite losing at the death to the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, the future of the Springboks remains a lot brighter than it was a year ago.
While their record in the Rugby Championship this season showed three wins and three losses, the strides that have been made under coach Rassie Erasmus are cause for great optimism.
“For 70 minutes we did a lot of things right,” said Bok skipper Siya Kolisi (pictured).
“But we had some soft moments and, against the No 1 team in the world, you can’t afford to do that. That’s probably where we lost it.”
The Boks’ three victories in the campaign included a 34-21 win over Argentina in Durban, a brilliant 36-34 triumph over the All Blacks in Wellington and a 23-12 win over Australia in Port Elizabeth.
The losses included a disappointing 32-19 defeat to Argentina in Mendoza, a 23-18 loss to Australia in Brisbane, and the 32-30 defeat to the All Blacks in Pretoria, after leading 30-13 midway through the second half.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose (last week) but they really stuck to their game plan, and perhaps we switched off for a split second,” Kolisi said.
The national squad will have about two weeks off before getting together for the end-of-year tour which is set to start with a big game against England at Twickenham on November 3.
The break will give Erasmus the chance to reassess injured players such as fullback Warrick Gelant, lock Lood de Jager, prop Coenie Oosthuizen and flank Jean-Luc du Preez.
No 8 Duane Vermeulen is also expected to be available, but scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and fullback Willie le Roux might have to miss certain Tests, with their tour opener falling out of the international window.
“I’m definitely happy with the progress and the growth we have shown,” Erasmus said.
“South African rugby fans are not stupid and there will be criticism of this defeat, but we have shown growth and we will cling on to that.”