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Cape Town - The Springboks must improve their discipline if they are to have any chance of getting the better of the All Blacks at Ellis Park this weekend.
VIDEO: Michael Hooper tip-tackle
VIDEO: Flip van der Merwe elbow
In order to win the Rugby Championship, South Africa must beat New Zealand with a four-try bonus point and at the same time prevent the Kiwis from getting any bonus points themselves.
That is a tall order, and a feat only once before achieved by the Springboks since the inception of the Southern Hemisphere tournament in 1996. Marius Joubert's hat-trick helped the Boks to a 40-26 win at Ellis Park back in 2004.
But if they are to have any chance, the Springboks must improve their discipline.
According to Die Burger's website, the Boks have played for 78 minutes with 14 men in their last three Tests.
Flank Willem Alberts received a yellow card against Australia in Brisbane three weeks ago, before Bismarck du Plessis received two yellows - and subsequent red - against the All Blacks in Auckland a fortnight ago.
And this past weekend against the Wallabies at Newlands, Flip van der Merwe and Duane Vermeulen both spent time on the sidelines in South Africa's 28-8 win.
These are unacceptable numbers and another period with 14 men would prove costly on Saturday.
Hooker Adriaan Strauss agreed that there will be no room for error against the All Blacks.
"We must improve our discipline before this weekend's match. We must just do the right things at the right time," he said.
Kick-off at Ellis Park is at 17:00 on Saturday.
VIDEO: Michael Hooper tip-tackle
VIDEO: Flip van der Merwe elbow
In order to win the Rugby Championship, South Africa must beat New Zealand with a four-try bonus point and at the same time prevent the Kiwis from getting any bonus points themselves.
That is a tall order, and a feat only once before achieved by the Springboks since the inception of the Southern Hemisphere tournament in 1996. Marius Joubert's hat-trick helped the Boks to a 40-26 win at Ellis Park back in 2004.
But if they are to have any chance, the Springboks must improve their discipline.
According to Die Burger's website, the Boks have played for 78 minutes with 14 men in their last three Tests.
Flank Willem Alberts received a yellow card against Australia in Brisbane three weeks ago, before Bismarck du Plessis received two yellows - and subsequent red - against the All Blacks in Auckland a fortnight ago.
And this past weekend against the Wallabies at Newlands, Flip van der Merwe and Duane Vermeulen both spent time on the sidelines in South Africa's 28-8 win.
These are unacceptable numbers and another period with 14 men would prove costly on Saturday.
Hooker Adriaan Strauss agreed that there will be no room for error against the All Blacks.
"We must improve our discipline before this weekend's match. We must just do the right things at the right time," he said.
Kick-off at Ellis Park is at 17:00 on Saturday.
