Good news :Springboks star reveals ‘big focus’ area ahead of second Wallabies Test
Despite starting their Rugby Championship campaign on a positive note against Australia, South Africa still have plenty of room for improvement and aim to do that in Saturday’s rematch in Perth.
That was the word from Springboks back-row Marco van Staden who identified their breakdown play as an area of concern for the world champions struggled in that facet of play in their previous clash with the Wallabies in Brisbane last week.
Earlier this week, Springboks assistant coach Duane Vermeulen spoke about their breakdown work as an area which needs improvement after they conceded some penalties in that facet of play in last week’s clash with the Wallabies and Van Staden echoed his sentiments.
The Bulls stalwart revealed that their breakdown work is an area of concern which the Boks have paid special attention to in the build-up to this weekend’s highly anticipated encounter with Australia.
‘Big focus on that area of the game’
“There has been a big focus on that area of the game this week and to correct the wrongs of last week,” said Van Staden. “We’ve been working on trying to control what we can and to ensure that we are ready for whatever they throw at us in that department.”
The Bulls stalwart dismissed suggestions that the 10 alterations made to the Springbok run-on side by head coach Rassie Erasmus would disrupt South Africa’s momentum.
Erasmus is trying to strike a balance between his side’s excellent form – which has seen them winning 17 of their previous 20 Tests – and building depth in his squad ahead of their Rugby World Cup title defence in Australia in 2024.
He is confident the inexperienced players will give a good account of themselves against the Wallabies.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a disruption,” added Van Staden. “I don’t think this team needs any more motivation than we currently have for this match.
“All of us want to use this opportunity, and we took a lot of confidence from training this week. The intensity was really up there, and we want to take that energy into the game.”
Strong Bulls contingent in Bok pack
The Bulls have several forwards in the Springboks’ starting pack for Saturday’s clash against Australia.
They are: Van Staden, Elrigh Louw (number eight), Ruan Nortje (lock), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (prop) and Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) and the 28-year-old tearaway is looking forward to being in the company of some familiar faces.
Many of us have played together quite often at the Bulls), which certainly gives us confidence,” said Van Staden. “We’ve been working together well at training (in the Bok camp too), so we are excited about this opportunity.”
READ MORE :
Springboks: Another injury added to the list
Impressive Springbok newcomer Ben-Jason Dixon is the latest player to be sidelined with an injury, but it’s hoped he won’t be out for long.
Considering the incredible squad depth the Springboks have, it’s easy to forget that there are several star players who are unavailable, from Steven Kitshoff to Franco Mostert to Damian Willemse.
In the latest injury news, Ben-Jason Dixon – who started at flanker last week – is nursing a niggle, which has placed him on the rehabilitation list along with RG Snyman, who has been ruled out of contention for selection as he continues to manage the foot niggle that saw Rassie Erasmus being forced to make late changes his match-23 last week.
However, Ruan Nortje has recovered from the knee issue that ruled him out of the Brisbane match and returns to the Bok matchday team for the first time since making his Test debut off the bench against Wales in Bloemfontein in 2022.
For this Saturday’s clash in Perth, Erasmus opted to rest Siya Kolisi (flanker), Frans Malherbe, Gerhard Steenekamp (both props), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf), Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing), Damian de Allende (centre) and Willie le Roux (fullback).
Erasmus named a robust replacements’ bench filled with Rugby World Cup-winners in Malcolm Marx (hooker), Ox Nche, Vincent Koch (both props), Eben Etzebeth (lock), Kwagga Smith (loose forward), Grant Williams (scrumhalf), Libbok and Handre Pollard (flyhalf).
In total, 14 players were retained from the Brisbane match-23, namely Moerat, Van Staden, Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Louw, Kolbe, Kriel, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Marx, Nche, Koch, Etzebeth, Smith, Williams and Pollard.
Erasmus expected a massive onslaught from the Wallabies on Saturday: “They will be desperate to come back strongly from last week’s defeat and I have no doubt that Joe Schmidt (Australian head coach) will select a team that is fired up and who will give everything to turn things around and get their campaign back on track.
“They are a proud nation and they’ll be highly motivated to continue their impressive home win record against us in Australia, so we’re fully aware of the challenge.
“But we’re also determined to continue building on the changes we’ve made since the end of the 2022 season (in which the Boks have only suffered three defeats in 20 matches) and we have a determined and enthusiastic group of players who also have a lot to play for.
“This is a massive match for us because if we can build on last week, it will give us a good chance to be in the mix for the title which we last won in 2019.”
SPRINGBOKS V WALLABIES: STATS AND FACTS:
Springbok record against Australia:
Played 94; Won 51; Lost 40; Drawn 3; Points for: 1 893, Points against: 1 660; Tries scored 223, Tries conceded 171; Highest score 61-22 (Pretoria, 1997); Biggest win 45 points (53-8, Johannesburg 2008). Win % 54.2%.
MISCELLANEOUS:
The average caps per player in the backline is 28, the forwards 17, while the players on the bench average 52.
Should Eben Etzebeth take the field it will mark his 124th Test, which will see him equal with Bryan Habana in second place and three caps short from equalling Victor Matfield’s Springbok Test record (127).
Should Kwagga Smith take the field, he will need only five more Test caps to join the club of Springboks with 50 Test caps.
Morne van den Berg, Ruan Nortje, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Johan Grobbelaar will earn only their second Test caps in the match.
Should the Springboks win, it will be the first time they have won four successive tests against the Wallabies in more than half a century (they won seven matches in a row against Australia between 1969 and 1971).
A win for the Springboks would be their third in succession against the Wallabies in Australia – the first time that feat would have been achieved since winning four in a row between 1971 (3) and the return from isolation in 1993 (1).
The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 332.
There are 196 caps in the backline, with 136 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 419 caps.
