Coetzee: Boks are not happy

No Springbok side will ever be satisfied with a draw and coach Allister Coetzee is no different.

The Boks were frustrated at leaving several try-scoring opportunities on the field as they were held to a 23-23 draw in their Rugby Championship clash against Australia in Perth on Saturday.

“The Springboks will never be happy with a draw,” Coetzee said ahead of departing for New Zealand yesterday.

“I am however satisfied with the overall performance, because the team showed great character in their fightback,” said Coetzee. “We had three line-breaks and no reward in the last couple of minutes.”

Prop Coenie Oosthuizen suffered a broken arm and has already started his journey back home. He will be replaced in the squad by Western Province’s uncapped Wilco Louw (below).

This could open the door for either Trevor Nyakane or Ruan Dreyer to start against the All Blacks on Saturday in Albany, North Harbour at a venue very seldom used by New Zealand.

Coetzee apparently is also playing with the idea to start with Lood de Jager at lock and move Pieter-Steph du Toit, the Manof-the-Match against Australia, to the bench and extend Franco Mostert’s rest period.

The two teams scored two tries each, and the Boks had their noses in front at 23-20 before Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley converted a 69th-minute penalty to level the scores.

In the first half, centres, Bok Jesse Kriel and Wallaby Kurtley Beale, scored, while in the second half, hookers – Tatafu Poloto-Nau for Australia and Malcolm Marx for South Africa – went over.

Coetzee however believed that Argentina, despite going down 3922, showed against the All Blacks that if enough pressure is applied in the right areas, the New Zealanders could be put under the cosh.

“We now move on to the next match, which is the All Blacks, who are still the best team in the world,” said Coetzee.