Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus did not mince his words in the post-match press conference following his side’s unconvincing 42-24 victory over a spirited Italy at Loftus Versfeld.
Erasmus conceded that the performance had not met the world champions’ standards — and there’s little doubt the players received a stern dressing-down in the change room.
So what can we expect to change from the Boks in this week’s second Test?
Clean up the breakdown
Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada outwitted the Boks at the breakdown — and he did it with precision. The Azzurri committed numbers and played with ferocity, frequently blasting the Boks off the ball or slowing it down. Without quick ball, the Springboks’ attacking ambitions faltered. Expect Monday’s training to be breakdown-focused, with a clear directive to restore order at the ruck.
Play with width
Against Italy, the Boks reverted to a more direct style, likely influenced by the opposition and the absence of key players. But the Tony Brown-influenced approach relies on width and tall, powerful carriers in the wider channels. The return of Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit this week will likely see them deployed as wide ball-carriers to stretch the defence and create space.
Shore up the maul defence
A 20-metre rolling maul try from Italy?
That’s not a sight many would expect to see. The Springboks’ pride will have taken a hit when their vaunted pack was driven backwards. It may have stemmed from a technical lapse — but whatever the cause, it’s unlikely to be repeated. This week, the lineout and maul defence will be a non-negotiable focus.
Play for 80 minutes
South Africa looked poised for a rout at 28-3 up at half-time, but they failed to sustain their dominance. Italy fought back and narrowed the deficit to just 11 points late in the match. Erasmus admitted in his presser that playing for only 50 to 60 minutes is unacceptable at Test level. You can be sure that this message will be delivered with added bluntness in the first team meeting of the week.
Fire up the Bomb Squad
For once, the Bomb Squad misfired — and they’ll know it. Quesada’s so-called ‘Grenade Squad’ outmuscled the South Africans off the bench. The Boks’ replacements take great pride in their impact, and their collective pride will have been wounded. Expect a fierce response from the bench this week, with a renewed intent to dominate the final quarter.
Erasmus and his coaching team have plenty to address — but also plenty of firepower returning to the mix. In front of a passionate Eastern Cape crowd, the Boks will be desperate to reassert their dominance and silence any lingering doubts.
