Bok coach proud after gruelling Test schedule

SPRINGBOK coach Jacques Nienaber has every reason to be “unbelievably proud” of his team after their 29-10 Rugby Championship victory over Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha at the weekend.

Playing in their second Test against the Pumas, the South Africans scored two tries to one to bag the win.

While the game wasn’t the ultimate advert for rugby, the Boks, playing as a much-changed team yet again, showed the magnitude of their depth and defensive prowess.

The Boks needed to score three or more tries than Argentina to claim the bonus point. While they conceded a late try, it was only their third in the six Tests they’ve played this year.

In the previous matches, their kicking game was also a big feature.

Speaking after the game, defence guru Nienaber lauded the squad for what they’ve managed to achieve. Despite all the disruptions brought on by Covid-19 and injury, their solitary defeat since returning to the Test arena came against the British & Irish Lions in the series opener.

“I’m unbelievably proud of the squad of players,” said Nienaber.

“This was a massive Test match for us ... not bigger than a World Cup or a British & Irish Lions series match, but it was huge for us internally. If you take the perspective of the South Africa ‘A’ match against the Lions and then three Test matches against them and then two really tough Tests against Argentina, it was six Test matches in a row and at the end of it I can just say well done to the guys.

“The players deserve all the credit, it’s them sacrificing themselves for their country and their team. I’m massively privileged to work with people like that.”

On the try Argentina scored in the final minutes, Nienaber said: “The fact that we conceded that try wasn’t disappointing.

“Maybe 10 or so years ago I wouldn’t have said that, but we were going for the bonus-point try and we told the guys to go for the big defensive reads. We told them to take chances.

“If we had got the bonus-point try, it would have been worth it. We were in a position where we could go for it, so it wasn’t a risk.”

With the uncertainty around the competition after New Zealand cancelled their home Tests against the Springboks due to Covid-19 restrictions and decided not to travel to Perth for their match against Australia next weekend, the Boks will remain in Nelson Mandela Bay until a decision is taken on the rescheduling of the remaining Rugby Championship fixtures.

The All Blacks were to face the Boks in Dunedin on September 25 and at Eden Park on October 2.

Nienaber said they were ready for any eventuality.

“We would like to play the Rugby Championship in South Africa. We’ve proved we can do it,” Nienaber said.

“But we’ll play anywhere we have to. We have got six scenarios ready and when the decision is made, we’ll put it into action.”