Boks must fire on all cylinders once again
Consistency paramount to crush tough Wallabies and for Japan World Cup
If the Springboks want to prove they are not “flash in the pan” onehit wonders, they must overcome a formidable Wallaby side in a Rugby Championship clash in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The Boks have blown hot and cold this season, and consistency is paramount if they want to be contenders at 2019’s World Cup in Japan. A sell-out 46,000 crowd will be behind the Boks at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as they bid to build on their stunning win over the All Blacks in their last outing.
It was a superhuman effort, and Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has called on his players to maintain the ferocious intensity they showed in Wellington. “If this team can grow from our last game, we should get the result against Australia,” Erasmus said.
“If we take a step backwards, then it is going to be a tough and close game – or even a losing game.
“So we have to grow every single week to get the result that we are striving for.
“It is great that we will be playing in front of sold-out stadiums here in Port Elizabeth and then against the All Blacks in Pretoria the following weekend.
“In our team meetings, we say when the media and the fans get negative, we have to see it as a hell of a positive. I have coached in countries where you just do not get that pressure or feeling of people getting disappointed.
“I think you are in trouble when people stop being disappointed when you are not doing well.
“It is because people care. You can see by getting one result, we are selling out stadiums. We are privileged to play in a country where people get upset when you lose. They do not just forget about you and they still want you to win,” Erasmus said.
“Now it is a hell of a responsibility for us to perform and repay them.”
The coach is demanding his men keep their feet firmly on the ground after beating New Zealand.
“We do not want the guys to fly too high and think they are this world team that can beat anyone because we beat the All Blacks in our last game,” Erasmus said.
“The players must be right because we are playing a difficult Australian team. Keeping up that intensity is always a challenge.”
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has called on his team to deliver a massive effort against the Wallabies.
Kolisi said the Wallabies pack will provide the Springboks with a big, physical contest and that his side will have to counter the visitors in the physical exchanges.
“We made a huge amount of tackles against the All Blacks and the guys showed a lot of heart. What was very pleasing, was the fact that we took our chances, something we did not do in previous games.
“The Wallabies are a quality side and they showed how dangerous they are. We are not reading too much into their loss against Argentina.
“The Boks know we will have to deliver a massive effort against them if we want to be successful.”
Stormers No 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe has a golden chance to lay down a marker in Test rugby when he makes his run-on debut for the Boks.
Notshe gets his opportunity to shine because regular No 8, Warren Whitely has been ruled out by a groin strain.
The inclusion of Cheslin Kolbe on the right wing and Notshe in the pack are two of four changes to the Bok starting team that beat the All Blacks two weeks ago in Wellington, New Zealand.
Jesse Kriel, who started at right wing in Wellington, moves back to outside centre.
Kriel is set to partner the strong-running André Esterhuizen in a revamped Springbok midfield as a result of the injuries to Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am.
In the pack, there is a rotation at loosehead prop between Tendai Mtawarira and Steven Kitshoff, who will provide vital impact off the bench.
The teams:
(Nos 15 to 1): Willie le Roux; Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, André Esterhuizen, Aphiwe Dyantyi; Handré Pollard, Faf de Klerk; Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Wilco Louw, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Embrose Papier, Elton Jantjies, Damian Willemse (Nos 15 to 1): Dane Haylett-Petty; Israel Folau, Reece Hodge, Matt Toomua, Marika Koroibete; Kurtley Beale, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Ned Hanigan; Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman; Taniela Tupou, Tatafu PolotaNau, Scott Sio. Replacements: Folau Faingaa, Sekope Kepu, Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Rob Simmons, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Jack Maddocks. Jerome Garces (France).
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