Cape Town - Springbok loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira feels the team’s scrummaging is on an upwards curve.
There were times over the last two Tests against Ireland that the Bok scrum looked under severe pressure, but the “Beast” dispelled that notion.
“Ireland have a formidable pack, but I think as a team we are improving. We could have performed better on their ball, but I really think we’ve scrummed well thus far,” Mtawarira told Netwerk24.
According to Mtawarira, Ireland's dominance at a few scrums were down to the fact that they “keep scrumming” for longer.
“We also have to keep scrumming and work on our communication to know exactly when the ball is out,” he said.
The Bok scrum will be ready for Saturday’s third Test in Port Elizabeth, insists Mtawarira.
“I think two Tests are enough to get the combinations going. I think we’re there now. We have to make the step up and show what we’ve got.”
Mtawarira is likely to again start at loosehead on this weekend, but Steven Kitshoff will be his back-up.
Kitshoff will replace Trevor Nyakane, who has been withdrawn from the squad due to an ankle injury.
At tighthead, coach Allister Coetzee has to choose between Frans Malherbe and Julian Redelinghuys.
The Lions’ Redelinghuys performed well when he replaced Malherbe in both Tests, with the Stormers front ranker badly out of sorts in the series thus far.