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Boks simply not good enough

JJ Harmse

Wellington – An admission that they are currently not good enough, better homework about the application of the breakdown law … and that the leaders in the team have to step up.

That, according to three of the most senior Springboks in the Tri-Nations squad, is what is required for the team to get back on the winning track following successive losses to the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield and Jaque Fourie consider a victory to be non-negotiable at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

South Africa simply have to win the Test if they still have Tri-Nations aspirations.

Burger, one of the few stars in New Zealand and one of only two try-scorers, said that the facts were inescapable.

“We weren’t good enough. They scored more than 60 points in two Tests and we scarcely got 20. That is how much better they were.”

He believes the yellow cards for Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw contributed to the Boks’ struggles.

“We wanted to start well in both games, but after those yellow cards and the effect, we had to play catch-up rugby. We wanted to limit the All Blacks’ space, but you can’t do that effectively at this level with 14 players.”

Matfield was also annoyed with what All Black captain Richie McCaw got away with.

“It looks as if McCaw and Dan Carter are God’s gift to rugby because you’re not allowed to touch them. And McCaw gets away with murder,” said Matfield.

However, that is not an excuse as the Springboks aren’t adapting well to the referees.

“We can and want to play positive rugby with the new laws. The Bulls and Stormers showed that. But the Super 14 was handled by Southern Hemisphere referees and that is probably where the difference and the frustration comes from.

“We probably should have, and now will, pay more attention to the analysis of referees. If not, we will get a hiding.”

Matfield does not believe there is any problem with the Boks’ playing style.

“We want to carry the ball and get momentum, get ball-carriers on the front foot and score tries, but there is a feeling that teams aren’t penalised when they deliberately try to prevent us from doing that,” he said.

Fourie agrees. “I don’t understand how we go into rucks with the ball, but it ends up with them. Something is clearly not right,” he said.

“We’re not defending well enough. There are too many instances where guys don’t work hard enough to get back in a position where they can make positive tackles. Our leaders have to put up their hands and start playing. It’s time for us to look each other in the eye.”

A victory on Saturday is crucial, they believe.

“We have no choice. We have to win with a bonus point on Saturday,” said Fourie.
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