Springboks 'fell asleep' admits Kolisi
REACTION: Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi made a very honest admission following his team’s defeat to the All Blacks on Saturday at Ellis Park.
The Springboks were forced to overturn a 0-15 deficit and took a 23-21 lead with just 12 minutes remaining.
However, the All Blacks scored two tries in the final seven minutes to regain the lead and claim a 35-23 victory.
The Springboks scored tries through Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am while Handre Pollard had a second successive perfect weekend with five out of five successful kicks at goal for 13 points. But the All Blacks’ strong start and finish – scoring a brace of tries in each half in the space of no more than six minutes – gave them a famous victory.
“We would have loved to gain momentum with a win, but we can’t let our heads drop for long,” said Springbok captain Kolisi.
“There are still four more games to go but we have missed an opportunity. New Zealand played really well; they controlled the game more. We fought back really well in the second but we slipped up in one moment; we fell asleep and that’s what they can do to you when that happens.”
#REPORT: The All Blacks found another level in Johannesburg on Saturday 👇- #RugbyChampionship #Springboks #SouthAfrica #NewZealand #AllBlacks https://t.co/FEZTKmPnWW
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) August 13, 2022
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber shared his captain’s sentiments.
“We weren’t as accurate as we were last week and they kept offloading, taking high risks which we didn’t contain that well,” said Nienaber.
“I thought we did well to come back; 15-0 down against the All Blacks is a tough ask to get back into the game, which we managed to do in the back end of the first half and up to 73 minutes. And then we slipped at the back end.”
Kolisi said the focus was now on the next match against Australia while praising the 61 500 crowd.
“Since we started playing at home this year the South African public has been next level,” he said. “We don’t take it for granted at all – for people to keep coming out like they have done is special. It might be hostile for our opponents, but we definitely use it for motivation.”
The Springboks’ next match is against Australia in Adelaide on August 27.
Source: SA Rugby
