‘Improvement must be visible’
SPRINGBOK coach Allister Coetzee is looking for “dramatic” improvement when his team start their Rugby Championships campaign against Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium tomorrow (5.05pm).
He too has not forgotten his team’s sins in their 2-1 series win over Ireland in June.
“We have to improve in a big way,” Coetzee nodded.
“The improvement must be dramatic since the Irish series. If you are going to improve in small steps then a team like Argentina will put you to bed. They are a world force in rugby.”
To that end Coetzee changed a third of his starting lineup, of which three fifths occurred in the pack. As is now customary, the expectation is that the Pumas will vent much of their natural rugby gifts through their forwards.
The Boks intend delivering some body blows of their own and while the timing of Lood de Jager’s return to the starting line-up would have caught a few observers off guard, the coach raved about his fitness levels earlier this week.
His inclusion means Pieter-Steph du Toit’s much vaunted second row partnership with Eben Etzebeth is broken but the former will come off the bench, possibly even as a blind-side flank.
Oupa Mohoje has been added to the back row that should significantly bolster the Springboks’ lineout already endowed with Warren Whiteley’s aerial ability at the tail.
Julian Redelinghuys gets his expected start at tighthead, a position some feel he can now make his own.
Seeking balance in his team’s kicking game Coetzee as expected included Racing Metro’s Johan Goosen at fullback. The coach was quick to remind that Goosen played fullback that day.
The coach again likened Goosen to All Blacks’ ace Beauden Barrett. “We have a similar type of player. Johan has a good running game, aerial skills second to none and he kicks the ball a mile.”