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Cape Town - It is safe to say that the Springboks have performed well bellow par for the majority of their ongoing Test series against Ireland.
Only the last 20-odd minutes in the second Test at Ellis Park last weekend provided any encouraging rugby.
That brief period of hard, dynamic running played at a high tempo and intensity was enough to rescue the match for the Boks as they pulled off a 32-26 win and kept the series alive.
Coach Allister Coetzee believes that period of play was crucial for the Boks - so much so that it has formed part of the team mentality going into Saturday's decider in Port Elizabeth.
"It’s how much you want it. How much we wanted it as a team (in the final 20 minutes last weekend) is the theme for this weekend," Coetzee said.
"At this level you don’t have to look for any external motivation. You represent the Springboks and you make sure that you switch on and turn up.
"You’re capable of putting it together, you do the basics well and hold onto the ball when you’re in their area. We execute our kicking game. We work for each other as a team and it sounds simple, but that’s what I’m looking for."
Coetzee also prepared his charges for what he expects to be another grueling contest.
"This Test is going to be right down in the trenches again and we have to be able to slog it out and when there are opportunities in open play I think we have the pace and the skill," he said.
The series is tied at 1-1 after Ireland won the opening match 26-20 in Cape Town.
Saturday's match kicks off at 17:00.
Teams:
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ruan Combrinck, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 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 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Lwazi Mvovo
Ireland
15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart Olding, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best (captain) 1 Jack McGrath
Substitutes: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Finlay Bealham, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Eoin Morgan 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Matt Healy
