Why you shouldn't write off SA sides just yet

SPOTLIGHT: Edinburgh utility back Jaco van der Walt has warned teams in the United Rugby Championship not to write off South African teams just yet.

Van der Walt, who played for the Lions before heading to Edinburgh, believes that the South African sides will adjust and do better as the competition goes on.

The Scottish international reckons that while SA teams have only had one win out of eight in the two rounds of the competition thus far, they will improve as time goes on.

“It hasn’t been good for them so far, but you can’t underestimate the South African teams,” he said after his team were beaten by a late drop goal in Treviso.

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“They’re good teams with good individual players.

“They’re just getting used to a new tournament and to the weather as well – obviously in South Africa they get better weather and play expansive rugby.

“It’s difficult for them to adjust to this weather to begin with, but it won’t take them long to get used to it and then we’ll see the best of them.”

Benetton’s Leonardo Marin split the posts in the last minutes to deny Edinburgh, but Van der Walt was pragmatic, saying the team would pick themselves up for the next game against the Stormers.

“We made too many mistakes and we can’t afford to do that again,” he said.

“It would have been nice to have kicked the winning goal, but unfortunately it didn’t go my way or the team’s way. We’ll be better next week.”