Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth says the team’s end-of-year tour will determine the success of their season. It is a season in which they have improved, yielding five wins‚ two defeats and two draws. The straight-talking lock was unambiguous on Thursday about the team’s objectives. "We are looking for four wins‚" he said about the upcoming Tests against Ireland‚ France‚ Italy and Wales. In 2016 the Springboks suffered their first home defeat against Ireland before winning the series 2-1. Etzebeth believes the Boks are now a lot better prepared for the Irish. "When we played Ireland last year we had been together for only three‚ four weeks. Now we’ve been together for almost two years. We are very prepared," he said. "The guys know each other better. We are a more gelled unit this time." Since Allister Coetzee took over the coaching reins the Boks have recorded only one away victory, against Argentina in 2017. Etzebeth is aware of that. "We need to start winning away as a group. This...
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