The Springboks were well and truly humbled in their Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies at Ellis Park, but now attention will quickly turn to the manner in which they respond in Cape Town.
“We as coaches got it terribly wrong and we have to look at ourselves before we point fingers at the players,” Rassie Erasmus commented after the game in Johannesbuerg.
“From now until next Saturday, we’re going to take a lot of flak, but we take credit when we do well, and we have to take the flak when we do badly.”
With this in mind, the Springboks will need to show some real courage and character as they seek redemption and a good result in their follow-up encounter.
The second match against Australia takes place at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, with kick off at 17:10.
Springboks have it all to do in Cape Town
The Springboks made the trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town on Sunday and will begin their on-field preparations on Monday.
“We want to win the Rugby Championship,” said prop Ox Nche. “Next weekend is a must-win Test (against Australia in Cape Town), and we have to get as many points as we can.”
Reflecting on Saturday’s result in Johannesburg, the Bok prop said: “At half-time, the chat was simply to stick to the plan and execute things, as it was working. But we just went off the script in the second half.
“They scored three easy tries early on, and it wasn’t from a good set piece. They were just more active and ready, and they pounced ahead.
“They just seemed more prepared than we were, and they used every opportunity they got, whereas we didn’t. Everyone just started going off on their plan instead of sticking to the plan we had as a team.”
How do you expect the Boks to respond?
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