Hansen has new respect for Boks

COACH: THEY WILL TAKE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE FROM THIS

Coetzee sorry for the players as they ‘left it all out there’. Cape Town

The conclusion of the Rugby Championship has perhaps left more questions than answers as the Springboks saved their best performance for last but still went down 25-24 to the All Blacks in a pulsating encounter at Newlands.

Chief among the questions is “Why on earth have the Springboks not played like this before under Allister Coetzee?”

As both coaches pointed out, it was truly a game which could have gone either way, ultimately decided by replacement flyhalf Lima Sopoaga’s penalty after Damian de Allende had late-tackled him, high and with the shoulder, and been red-carded.

It seemed crystal clear that the Springboks had been sparked by the magnificent physicality of their pack, carrying and defending the gain-line with brutal ferocity.

“The Springboks were able to garner some self-belief tonight because they had us under pressure with their carries from the set-pieces,” New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said. “They came forward tonight, getting over the gain-line and put us under pressure with their big bodies. They’re a good side when they get a roll on,” skipper Kieran Read added.

But Springbok coach Allister Coetzee saw things differently.

“It’s not a perfect formula and I believe it’s a positive that we can move between that direct style of play and using more width, and we can also pressure teams with our kicking game. I think we did enough to win.

“I feel very sorry for the players because they left everything out there, that they were totally committed was the prevalent thing to take away from the game and it shows our processes are on track. It was really pleasing to come back from that 57-0 drubbing which we never felt defined this team,” Coetzee said.

The much-improved performance of the Springboks suggests Coetzee is on the right track and Hansen agreed.

“The Springboks will take a lot of confidence from the match, they’re a young team too. Belief is such a big thing in sport and confidence gives you that extra 10% that makes a world of difference. I think today just showed that if South Africa have everyone in the right mindset, they’re a very good team and then we have to be right mentally as well otherwise we’re vulnerable,” Hansen said.