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Cape Town - Former Springbok assistant coach Brendan Venter says the team should not view Saturday’s Rugby Championship challenge against New Zealand in Wellington as “mission impossible”.
The South Africans head into the match on the back of successive defeats to Argentina and Australia and a 3-4 win-loss record in 2018.
Since their last win in New Zealand in 2009, the Springboks have beaten the All Blacks only twice in 17 Tests but Venter believes there is hope.
Venter, via a column for the Stuff.co.nz website, wrote that that All Blacks were “average” in their 46-24 win over Argentina in Nelson last weekend.
“Rugby is an amazing game and beating the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday should not be regarded as mission impossible,” Venter wrote.
The former Bok midfielder, who was the team’s assistant coach when they lost by a record 57-0 to New Zealand in Albany last year, has identified THREE areas the Boks must control in order to stand a chance:
“Firstly, the All Blacks play for territory and, if you want to beat them, you have to at least match them in the kicking stakes...
“Secondly, the Springboks will have to protect their ball possession because the All Blacks' counter-attacking and turn-over ability is second to none...
“Thirdly, when facing the All Blacks you have to prepare extremely well to defend the set-phases...”
READ Brendan Venter’s full explanation on the Stuff.co.nz website
