Jacques Nienaber, the coach of the Springboks, expressed his disappointment with his team’s slow beginning in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship Test, which led to a 35-20 defeat in Auckland. The Springboks conceded 17 points in the first 15 minutes, and although they performed better in the second half (scoring 17 points to New Zealand’s 15), they had dug themselves into too deep a hole to secure a third consecutive victory in New Zealand.
Nienaber ruefully admitted, “The start wasn’t ideal for us.” He attributed their struggle to get into the game to poor discipline, with four consecutive penalties, as well as numerous mistakes and missed tackles. Against a quality side like New Zealand, these errors provided an opportunity for their opponents to capitalize and take control of the match. From that point on, the Springboks were playing catch-up, making it difficult to gain a foothold in the game.
While Nienaber acknowledged that starting poorly wasn’t a deliberate strategy, he noted that sometimes mistakes happen, and it can put a team on the back foot. He emphasized that they were aware of the challenges they would face but failed to handle them effectively.
Despite the disappointing start, Nienaber expressed pride in the team’s comeback in the second half, where they scored 17 points. However, the damage had already been done in the first half, and it was difficult to recover fully.
Nienaber also reflected on the purpose of the two opening matches in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, admitting that things didn’t go entirely according to plan. The main objective was to win the Rugby Championship while assessing the players. Although they gained some valuable insights from these two games, he acknowledged that there was room for improvement.
Nienaber mentioned that some players displayed over-eagerness, while others lacked game time, making a noticeable difference in their performance. He also highlighted that several players arrived in New Zealand just a few days before the match, and the decision to have a few players present earlier was aimed at acclimatizing them better. However, he made it clear that they were not making excuses for the defeat.
Looking ahead, Nienaber mentioned that the Springboks have one more game in the Championship against Argentina before three warm-up matches. The goal is to complete the assessment process and fine-tune their strategies for future games. He explained that the team opted not to repeat their approach from 2019, where they sent a full 15 fresh players to a match, as they wanted to mix experienced players with those who had already played.
The Springboks will conclude their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign against Argentina at Emirates Airline Park on July 29.
