AUDIO: Can Kolbe add zip to Bok attack?
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: South Africa will hope that uncapped French-based back Cheslin Kolbe can provide the spark to fire up their underperforming backline.
The Springboks face the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday – a game between two teams desperate to put their stuttering campaigns back on track.
Apart from the obvious need to get back on the winning track, the Boks are keen to get their talented backline to live up to expectations.
It was particularly evident in the 19-32 loss to Argentina in Mendoza in Round Two that something was amiss in the Bok team.
Despite dominating possession and territory – they had more than 60 percent of the ball – the Boks were outscored by four tries to three.
Kolbe was one of the bolters when the tour squad was named for the Australasian leg of the Boks’ campaign and he is expected to play some role in Brisbane.
He joined the Boks for their first training session in Brisbane on Monday and forwards coach Matt Proudfoot admitted they are looking at Kolbe to bring something special to the team.
Proudfoot said they are “very excited” to have 24-year-old Stade Toulousain player in the side.
“I think he deserves his chance in the group, because he has really performed well [in France],” Proudfoot said at a media briefing in Brisbane.
“He can create [something] out of nothing,” the assistant coach said, adding: “We are looking for a little bit of extra zip.
“I have worked with him at the Stormers and it is good to have him here.”
Proudfoot said the big focus this week will be to “bounce back” from the embarrassing loss in Mendoza.
“We are looking to get more consistency out of the team.
“We played really well in Durban and let ourselves down in Mendoza.
“We are looking to play with the same physicality we played with, in Durban and we are looking to repeat that performance.”
Proudfoot added that the Boks know what to expect from the Wallabies.
“They will be determined to bounce back and will no doubt be in our faces, so we need to prepare with the same intensity that we can expect from them on Saturday.
“We are in fact two teams looking to bounce back, so I think this game is going to be crucial for both sides, to see how each one respond.
“It will be a tight game played on the advantage line by both sides who will be looking to get on the front foot.”
Coach Rassie Erasmus will announce his starting team on Thursday.
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