Boks can’t rest on laurels
WE WANT TO STRIVE TO BE THERE AGAIN OR EVEN BETTER IT
‘Both the Boks and Australia are in a difficult situation’.
The Springboks are under no pressure from their coaching staff to at least match the intensity they achieved in the previous Test against the All Blacks, said skipper Siya Kolisi yesterday.
Kolisi said obviously they want to maintain the high levels today against Australia in the Rugby Championship clash that they set in Wellington.
“The coaches haven’t put pressure on us, but we want to maintain the level we set last week. That’s the kind of pressure between us, but it’s not coming from the coaching staff,” he said.
“Obviously the coach would love us to be in that mindset the whole time, because we know how much pressure we can handle.”
“But that game was special with the standard we have set ourselves. We want to strive to be there again or even better it.”
Kolisi, who has been tipped as a hot contender by coach Rassie Erasmus to lead the side at next year’s World Cup, will captain the side for the eighth time but the first time in the city of his birth.
“It’s always exciting to come home. It’s an honour to be here – we enjoy playing in PE and it’s been a good week for us as a team,” he said.
“But if we start looking ahead to next week’s All Blacks Test we could lose focus on this game which we know will be tough, both us and Australia are in a difficult situation where we need to win.
“Both have good packs and the one who dominates will win, but we have tweaked a few things and need to be up for a tough challenge.”
New No 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe is, according to Kolisi, a different kind of player to the injured War- ren Whiteley and said he loves playing with ball in hand.
“He is extremely excited and I know his family will be here, while Pieter-Steph (Du Toit) has been immense and he will take a lot of the pressure of Sikhumbuzo and myself,” he said.
“The break was good after the All Blacks Test but what was good about that game was that when an opportunity came along we took it and that was something we have been struggling with before.
“Some of our guys came in early while others played Currie Cup and it will help us to be more fresh for this weekend and next,” he added. Kick-off: 5.05pm. Also see Page 43