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Johannesburg - The Springboks will pay for their indiscretions as repeated infringements will hit them in the pocket.
According to SuperSport, Bok coach Allister Coetzee revealed at the Thursday’s team announcement that the Boks fine system was back in place and players who simply didn’t follow the game plan and systems would now feel it in the pocket.
It is understandable after a horror start at Newlands which saw the Boks give away seven penalties in the opening quarter, and be on the back foot from then on, eventually losing the first test to the 14-man Irish.
“It was unacceptable to concede seven penalties within 22 minutes. They understand there will be consequences, they understand that,” Coetzee said at the announcement.
“Conceding penalties for becoming sloppy and tired, for not sticking to the systems will definitely hit the players financially and it could cost the player his place in the team as well.
“We are starting on a new slate this week, therefore I’ve given most players an opportunity to redeem themselves and it is crucial that they get it right. I believe in second chances, I believe the players will do that to improve and show they have learnt. If they don’t then I obviously have to look at other players.”
The veiled threat will have hit home for the players, and understandably anyone who feels it in the pocket will have a heightened awareness of not making the same mistake twice, but Coetzee is hoping that the Boks will be a lot better at the basics than in the first Test in order to level the series and give themselves a chance at redemption this week. Coetzee made it clear he is looking long term to get the Boks playing their best rugby ahead of the next World Cup.
“It is no excuse, we were poor and the Irish were better than us last week. The game plan will never settle in after one game, we want to be at our best and play our best rugby come 2018 and 2019,” he explained.
“But somehow we have to start and make mistakes to be able to rectify that. But there are no excuses for basics, for not doing them right. That is non-negotiable, the players understand that. I want to see better attitude in terms of the detail we put in this week. And to make sure that when we speak about body height in the carry, there will be consequences.
“When you run in the wide channel, you don’t force offloads unless you dominate in the collision. Those little things break the continuity of your attack and I think the players have realised how important it is to put the pieces of the puzzle together, to be able to really get scoreboard pressure in the end.”
The Boks need desperately to win the second test, with a failure meaning Ireland will become the first Home Nation in history to win a Test series in South Africa and only the third overall in over 100 years of rugby.
Teams:
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Rudy Paige 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Ruan Combrinck
Ireland
15 Jared Payne, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Stuart Olding, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Rhys Ruddock, 6 Iain Henderson, 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rory Best (captain), 1 Jack McGrath
Substitutes: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Donnacha Ryan, 20 Sean Reidy, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Tiernan O'Halloran
