Allister Coetzee feels that the Springboks proved a tactical point in the narrow defeat to the All Blacks at Newlands. JON CARDINELLI reports.
The Boks went down 25-24 to the All Blacks on Saturday. The result marked South Africa’s 11th loss to New Zealand in the last 12 Tests.
In the context of the past three weeks, however, the Boks have made a clear improvement. Coetzee’s charges conceded eight tries in a record 57-0 defeat to the All Blacks in Albany. On Saturday at Newlands, the Boks played with more power, if not more precision, to score three tries and limit the All Blacks to three.
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Afterwards, Coetzee said that he was proud of his team’s progress. The Boks have not improved on last year’s win-record in the Rugby Championship (two wins in six games). They have, however, according to Coetzee, taken significant strides in their game.
‘We’re disappointed with the result [at Newlands],’ Coetzee said. ‘When you turn over the ball, a side like the All Blacks are always going to hurt you.
‘At the same time, we’re proud of the process. The way the players have trained this past week, the way we’ve committed to one another has come through in this performance. It shows me the process is on track and that this team is a good side.
‘What happened in Albany was a blip,’ the Bok coach continued. ‘A lot happened in the buildup to that game, and I don’t want to say too much, otherwise it will sound like excuses … but we lost Jaco Kriel and Coenie Oosthuizen to injuries and then Ross Cronjé pulled out late.’
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The Boks dominated the collisions in the battle at Newlands. Coetzee acknowledged the role the forwards played in the performance.
‘The big boys were enormous. I’d say they got on top of New Zealand’s big boys.
‘Malcolm Marx was outstanding. Eben Etzebeth led from the front. What more can you ask of your players? You can prepare them for a game, but you can’t coach attitude.’
Again, Coetzee asked the South African public for patience regarding the lack of positive results. The team has won 43% of its Tests since the start of 2016.
‘People want to measure us by results. We’re still focused on the process, though.’
Coetzee confirmed that planning will commence in the next week for the four-Test tour to Europe. A camp will be staged in Stellenbosch before the Boks depart for Ireland, their first opponents, in early November.
