Boks primed for top effort
‘Complete’ game needed against Pumas in Port Elizabeth today
SPRINGBOK coach Allister Coetzee says they will have to “play a complete game” in Port Elizabeth today against an Argentina side that he believes will challenge them – unlike the French in June.
The Boks will take to the field for the first time since the 3-0 triumph over the Tricolores, which makes this Rugby Championship-opener even more important – not just because it can be only a positive to get their campaign off to a good start, but also because it’s crucial for the Boks to continue rebuilding after the last year’s dismal period.
And Coetzee needs no reminding of that.
During the team announcement at the side’s hotel on Thursday, the Bok coach said that they would have to produce a top effort in all areas.
“We need to make a step-up in all departments,” Coetzee said.
“This is much tougher (than in June). We have to be able to play a complete game, we weren’t challenged a lot during the French series.”
One of the areas Coetzee was expecting a particularly tough battle in is the aerial contest.
The Pumas have a number of personnel who are more than capable when it comes to the kicking game, but the Springbok coach believes that their preparation for the Test has been enough to help them “capitalise” on the opposition’s kicks.
“We will certainly be challenged with regards to the kicking game,” he said.
“Nicolas Sanchez and Martin Landajo are great kickers and Joaquin Tuculet as well.
“Last year we were tested on a small field in Salta and they fired the aerial bombardment, but we’ve prepared well for that and hopefully we can capitalise on it.”
But given the Argentinians’ innovative attacking play, it’s not just their kicking game that should be watched.
Again, it’s something that the Springbok coach knows very well – but he also made it clear that the Pumas aren’t the only ones who want to wreak havoc with ball in hand.
“They love to keep ball in hand, so our defence will be tested, especially in broken play – that’s when they’re at their most dangerous. But we’ve done a lot of work.
“The breakdown is going to be tough, they try and slow your ball down or turn it over because they love broken play situations.
“We’ve got to make sure that we make good decisions at the breakdowns so that we can get quick ball because we love quick ball. We want to score tries. And it’s the same with them. We want to use the width of the field on attack and score tries.”
Another aspect that can obviously not be ignored in the Argentinian outfit is their forward pack.
During the captain’s press conference yesterday, Springbok skipper Eben Etzebeth said that they know they have their work properly cut out for them.
“Argentina has a huge pack, we know their potential and we will have to work hard,” the Bok and Stormers lock said.
Argentina’s potential at the lineout is also well-known, and when it comes to his opponent, Tomás Lavanini, Etzebeth offered this: “He’s a very good player, I had several battles with him in the past and it will be a good challenge to face him.
“I know we had good results in the past, but tomorrow is the future,” he said.
So, Coetzee has singled out Sanchez, Tuculet and Landajo for their kicking prowess and Etzebeth knows what Lavanini will bring come line-out time, but there are also a few other players to watch.
Flyhalf Elton Jantjies is definitely one of the most important and exciting ones, while Uzair Cassiem’s effort in only his second Test is also one to look out for.
The second-row pairing of Etzebeth and Mostert promises to be good and who knows, Port Elizabeth fans might even be lucky enough to get a glimpse or two of an exciting Sharks youngster called Curwin Bosch.