Winning scrums battle vital for Boks, says Proudfoot

The Springboks must be accurate and patient at scrum time if they are to have any chance of beating the All Blacks in their own back yard for the first time since 2009, assistant coach Matt Proudfoot said.

The Boks had challenges in most areas during the deflating defeat to Australia last week and the All Blacks will present a much more dangerous threat in what is expected to be a hostile environment at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

“Our accuracy must improve and we are constantly looking at putting our backs [in a position] to be able to attack,” Proudfoot said.

‘‘Our pack has been carrying well, but theirs has been devastating and it should be an interesting battle.

“Scrummaging against the All Blacks is always a concern, but I don’t look at their performance against Argentina last week and see a balance sheet.

‘‘We have more than 100 caps on each side facing each other and it is going to be exciting to watch.

‘‘We have to have the mentality of always looking to improve every week and as a forward pack, scrummaging and mauling are synonymous with what the pack represents.

‘‘We are relishing the opportunity to show what we are about at scrum time and we have improved as a group since the match against Argentina.

‘‘We did particularly well against Australia, but this is a different challenge that we must tackle head-on and possibly win.”

A key player for the Springboks in this area is Tendai Mtawarira, who is expected to return to the starting lineup.

The other area where the Boks must cover themselves in glory is their carries because they are up against the team that is statistically the best in the competition.

“We have looked at them and they are the highest-carrying team in the competition and you can’t come here and try to defend,” Proudfoot said.

‘‘We are the second-best carriers with Siya Kolisi and Steven Kitshoff and we are not going to change what we have been doing for about six weeks.”

He said the All Blacks would miss injured Brodie Retallick.

‘‘I expect that Scott Barrett will play and his brother Beauden is a phenomenal athlete and I expect him to thrive.”