for quality writing

Ken Borland


Boks mentor says there is no need to change their game-plan

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Ken

Springboks mentor Jacques Nienaber said after the loss to the Wallabies that he was content his team created enough opportunities to win, which they wasted, so there is no need to change their game-plan, a view which was endorsed by wing Sbu Nkosi.

A penalty after the final hooter by Quade Cooper snatched a 28-26 win for Australia on the Gold Coast at the weekend and it was clear South Africa may be the world champions and No.1-ranked team, but they still need some guidance in terms of getting used to that tag and the target it paints on your back, as well as factors such as playing in front of away crowds again and the greater pace of the game in Australasia.

“The loss boils down to execution and we don’t need to go back to the drawing board. We have got a solid plan in place that led to us winning the World Cup, we’ve had a lot of success with it in the past. But we are still learning to be world champions, we are still growing that extra leg which is the ruthlessness to put teams away.

“It’s hard to say Plan A didn’t work when we scored three tries. We don’t need a Plan B, it is just our discipline that lost us the game. We all have a responsibility to get our forwards into a position where they can exert their dominance,” Nkosi said.

Nienaber also pointed out that far from being the dashing advertisers of running rugby that the Wallabies like to portray themselves as, the home side also used the kicking game extensively at the Super Stadium.

“This is a tough place in which to win and Australia are a quality side with good coaches and they obviously prepared well. They can mix it up – they can play expansively or use a conservative kicking game like they did tonight. I thought we adapted well when they went to a kicking game, which they also did against the All Blacks, kicking from scrumhalf.

“The thing we didn’t adapt to though was the referee and the assistant referees’ interpretations in terms of discipline. But we would have learnt a lot of lessons about making big decisions under pressure. Sometimes you have to pay dearly for those lessons though … ” Nienaber said.

Leave a Reply


  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Thought of the Day

    Galatians 5:25 – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep walking in step with the Spirit.”

    There is only one Christ and all things that are preached in his name must conform to his character. We can only know Christ’s character through an intimate and personal relationship with him.

    How would Christ respond in situations in which you find yourself? Would he be underhanded? Would he be unforgiving and cause broken relationships?

    “The value of your faith and the depth of your spiritual experience can only be measured by their practical application in your daily life. You can spend hours at mass crusades; have the ability to pray in public; quote endlessly from the Word; but if you have not had a personal encounter with the living Christ your outward acts count for nothing.” – Solly Ozrovech, A Shelter From The Storm

     

     



↑ Top