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Cape Town - Wales coach Warren Gatland has warned the Springboks that they will heap even more pressure on themselves if they lose to New Zealand on Saturday.
The Boks have lost their last three Tri-Nations matches, and another defeat to the All Blacks will send them into the Rugby World Cup without having won a game this year.
According to Wales Online, Gatland said Saturday’s test is a must-win for the Springboks because of the amount of first team players missing from New Zealand's match team.
“There is a bit of pressure on South Africa at the moment and even more will be heaped on them, particularly if they don’t beat a New Zealand team which doesn’t have key performers like Richie McCaw or Dan Carter,” said Gatland.
“I wasn’t surprised by the loss to Australia because it was the first time those combinations had played together and they were a little rusty.
“The performances of the national squad have been debated in parliament, so it gives you an indication of the types of pressure the team and coaching staff are under to perform.”
The Springboks have had tumultuous build up to the World Cup so far. The team declared 21 first team players injured and subsequently suffered two humiliating losses to Australia and New Zealand during the away leg of the Tri-Nations.
The back room staff then had to fight off allegations that the players had been taking part in a secret training camp with Western Province director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.
South Africa and Wales have been grouped together in Pool D of the World Cup and will start their campaigns against each other on September 11. Gatland said that his team should still be wary of the Springboks despite their poor performances before the World Cup.
“You can never write South Africa off, even if they have lost three or four games. They are such a proud nation and when their back’s to the wall they come out fighting.”
The Boks have lost their last three Tri-Nations matches, and another defeat to the All Blacks will send them into the Rugby World Cup without having won a game this year.
According to Wales Online, Gatland said Saturday’s test is a must-win for the Springboks because of the amount of first team players missing from New Zealand's match team.
“There is a bit of pressure on South Africa at the moment and even more will be heaped on them, particularly if they don’t beat a New Zealand team which doesn’t have key performers like Richie McCaw or Dan Carter,” said Gatland.
“I wasn’t surprised by the loss to Australia because it was the first time those combinations had played together and they were a little rusty.
“The performances of the national squad have been debated in parliament, so it gives you an indication of the types of pressure the team and coaching staff are under to perform.”
The Springboks have had tumultuous build up to the World Cup so far. The team declared 21 first team players injured and subsequently suffered two humiliating losses to Australia and New Zealand during the away leg of the Tri-Nations.
The back room staff then had to fight off allegations that the players had been taking part in a secret training camp with Western Province director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.
South Africa and Wales have been grouped together in Pool D of the World Cup and will start their campaigns against each other on September 11. Gatland said that his team should still be wary of the Springboks despite their poor performances before the World Cup.
“You can never write South Africa off, even if they have lost three or four games. They are such a proud nation and when their back’s to the wall they come out fighting.”
