VIDEO: Boks bracing for another brutal battle
South Africa has shifted focus to a more demanding challenge, just days after handing Eddie Jones’ Wallabies a reality check and two months out from the start of the World Cup title defence.
With 30-odd players gathering in Aotearoa for the Round Two Rugby Championship face-off against Arch Rivals New Zealand at the Mount Smart Stadium in the Auckland suburb of Penrose, they are focused on ‘lifting the bar’ for a team seemingly far superior to the Wallabies.
Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids said he was “impressed” with New Zealand’s start to the campaign – the All Blacks capping a strong performance by scoring seven tries to Argentina’s two, for a 41-12 win, two months out from the start of the World Cup in France.
“It was quite a physical and intense performance from them,” Davids said.
He added that the threat they pose to the boks is reflected in the fact that the All Blacks raced into a 31-0 lead in the first half.
“They showed that given any opportunities they will punish you,” Davids said, adding: “It is going to be really important that we look after our possession.
“We are expecting a very tough, physical game from New Zealand.
“It is never easy going down there [Aotearoa].”
(WATCH as Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids previews the Round Two Rugby Championship face-off against the All Blacks…)
For the Boks, the issue of ‘player management’ is important if they are to reclaim a title they last held ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
Twenty-one players headed for New Zealand on Sunday, joining the 13 who flew across the Indian Ocean and 10 time zones last Tuesday to acclimatise early for a top-of-the-table clash with the All Blacks this coming Saturday.
South Africa faces New Zealand in Auckland and Australia tackles fellow first-round losers Argentina in Sydney this Saturday in the second series of matches.
Traditionally a six-matchday tournament, the Southern Hemisphere championship has been reduced to three this year because of the World Cup, which kicks off in Paris on September 8.
Defending champions South Africa, who have won the World Cup a record-equalling three times, are in Pool B with Ireland, the current No.1 ranked Test team, Scotland, Romania and Tonga.
The “ruthless” performance by the All Blacks – in a 41-12 win over Argentina in Mendoza this past weekend – is just the warning the Boks needed to ensure they don’t go ‘cold’ into what is likely to be a tournament decider.
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* Additional reporting by AFP
