Boks look to finish strong
ERASMUS: WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO CHASE GAMES DOWN, TO GET IT RIGHT
Wales Test shaping up to be the toughest yet on European tour.
With the curtain coming down on their international season when they face Wales in Cardiff tonight, the Springboks are hoping to put the icing on the cake with a resounding display.
A win would give the national team their third straight victory on tour and their eighth win in 14 games this year, but in order to do that they need fire in their belly to avoid a fourth straight defeat against the Red Dragons since 2015.
The Boks could have delivered a better 2019 record had they not produced below-par showings against Argentina in Mendoza, England at Newlands and Australia in Brisbane, while they allowed their clash against New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld to slip from their grasp.
In Europe, however, they managed to close out games against France and Scotland, which was a good sign for the World Cup in Japan next year, according to Bok coach Rassie Erasmus.
“It’s a tough thing to say in a Bok set-up, but we are learning how to chase games down, to get it right and to get the penalties to close a game down. We will need all of those things at the World Cup,” Erasmus said.
While the Boks produced a hard edge on tour through the likes of No 8 Duane Vermeulen, flank Pieter-Steph du Toit and prop Steven Kitshoff, they also needed hooker Malcolm Marx and captain Siya Kolisi to come to the party and provide the platform for flyhalf Handre Pollard to do his damage.
“The two tries we scored against Scotland were wonderful, and there were a few others where we could have scored, but there are more opportunities out there,” Erasmus said.
“We still lack that killer instinct, but to grind out tough games helps with the momentum, and the clinical awareness will come on attack.”
In Wales, they were set to meet a team which relied heavily on the experience of centre Jonathan Davies, wing George North, and tough lock and skipper Alun Wyn-Jones, and Erasmus was anticipating another arm-wrestle in the 7.20pm clash.
“It would be nice for a change to have the game in the bag with 10 minutes to go, but every single game has gone to the wire,” he said.
“I guess it was good enough to beat Scotland after they had a great run. Overall there were probably a lot of mistakes, but again I think it was a 23-man effort against a well-drilled team.”
Erasmus also admitted it was tough to make substitutions when the team was gelling on the field.
“But at times you feel you need fresh legs and players who can make a difference, and all of them made a difference on the tour.
“Take somebody like Embrose Papier … sometimes it’s tough to blood a youngster at the right time, and at times you have to nurture him first.
“But I’m glad we gave him the chance last week and credit goes to him as he took it with both hands.”
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