Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s challenge after Saturday’s thrilling Test at Newlands‚ if he is going to see out his contract‚ is to somehow find a way for his team to repeat the intensity they showed against the All Blacks every time they play. The All Blacks won a classic at Newlands, but the Boks returned to basics using their sheer physical power to create problems for the visitors. Coetzee praised the effort and commiserated with his shattered players because there was much to admire about the performance, but now they have to repeat it every time they play. For all the talk about ball-in-hand it was the absolute physicality of the Boks, with hooker Malcolm Marx‚ prop Steven Kitshoff‚ captain Eben Etzebeth and flank Pieter-Steph du Toit in the vanguard, that put the home team on the front foot. There was little finesse about the way the Boks went about their business, but they did respect possession better than they have in previous meetings. During a breathless nine-minute ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.