Boks preparing for 'contestable kicks'

The Springboks go into the clash with the Azzurri in Padova looking to avenge one of the worst results in Bok history – when they lost to the Italians in the corresponding match last year.

Coetzee admitted that discipline and dealing with contestable kicks are the two areas they will focus on this week.

"The big step up we'd like to make is how we deal with 80 minutes of contestable kicks," Coetzee said, as the Boks stepped up preparations for the third match in their four-Test year-end tour.

"Every game we have conceded a try, because we were not focusing [on the contestable kicks].

"We want to focus completely on handling it well and dealing with it – making sure that the players around the catcher are in a position to take charge."

The Bok coach said keeping their discipline will be important against an Italian side with a very effective driving maul.

"We have worked on adapting to referees," he said.

"We have Mr [Romain] Poite this week again and it's important for the players to keep working on the discipline.

"I was really pleased with our effort last week [against France], but in the second half there were one or two silly ones [penalties] that put us under pressure.

"In these Test matches you're looking at keeping the opposition out, and the one way you can do that is to be very calculated in terms of not conceding penalties.

"Italy has a great driving maul and you can only get to a driving maul from a line-out. And you get to a line-out when you concede penalties and they get a touch-finder. It is a massive focus for us.

"The other thing, obviously, is we need to work on a few things in our defence.

"It has been good, but we [still] need to work on a few things."