Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick billed their penultimate Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against the Pumas in Durban on Saturday as a “semi-final” and said they would treat the visitors with the “respect” they deserve going into the crucial encounter.
With the Wallabies, Boks, All Blacks, and Argentina all still in the title race, Kolisi and Stick expected a blockbuster encounter, but they stressed that they were completely focused on what they wanted to achieve in the match.
“We all know what’s at stake,” said Kolisi.
“They are a team that brings physicality and skill, so they are certainly not going to just give this game to us. So, for the team, it will be about doing our best to give ourselves the best possible chance to win the match and stay in the running for the title.
Kolisi added: “The Pumas are extremely professional on and off the field, and they always play with passion, so we are under no illusions about the challenge ahead.
“But at the same time, we want to do something we’ve never done before, and that’s to win back-to-back Rugby Championship titles in a row, so we have a lot of motivation within this group as well.”
Zooming into the threats the Pumas posed, Kolisi said: “Their coaching staff have done very well to bring the team together, and they have a good pack, while they also play with more structure, but still have that flair in broken play, so they are a dangerous team to face.”
Stick echoed Kolisi’s sentiments and added that they had set specific goals for the match and that those would be their main focus points, rather than zooming too much into what the opposition would do.
“Their coaching staff have done very well to bring the team together, and they have a good pack, while they also play with more structure, although they still have that flair in broken play, so they are a dangerous team to face,” said Stick.
“That said, the main aspect for us is to keep improving. We’ve had a few inconsistent performances this season, and over and above that, Argentina are also in a good space, and they have players who have been playing together for a few years, so they are a settled outfit.
“We are also mindful of the fact that they are still in the title race, so they’ll give everything.”
Kolisi expected a massive breakdown battle and said: “They have physical and very experienced loose forwards and we’ve been playing against them for years, but similarly to them, Jasper (Wiese), Pieter-Steph (du Toit), and I complement one another really well, and we know who needs to fulfil each role according to our strengths.”
The Bok captain admitted that while it was a special match for the team, given that it marks their last match in South Africa for the year, they would be driven by their on-field objectives, as opposed to putting up a good show.
“For us, it’s not about putting on a show,” said Kolisi. “We are playing Test rugby, and this match is basically a semi-final for us because Argentina, the All Blacks, and Wallabies can also still win the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, so for us the focus is on getting the desired result.
“Obviously, it will be the last match that some of our families will be able to be with us and support us, so we do want to thank them and our supporters with a good performance, but we also know that with us playing at home, the Pumas will feel that the pressure is on us.”
Asked about the late change to the team on Friday morning following the withdrawal of Ox Nche (prop) due to a niggle, which will see Boan Venter start at loosehead prop and utility forward Marco van Staden come onto the bench as a replacement hooker, Stick said they had full faith in both players.
“I wouldn’t say the late change disrupted the team,” he said. “Boan has been with us all season, and he’s started games and he’s come off the bench, so he knows what he has to do, while Marco played hooker for us in the Rugby World Cup and has been training his throwing with Deon (Davids) and Daan (Human – Bok assistant coaches), so we are comfortable that they will do what is expected of them on the field.”
Both Kolisi and Stick said while they would keep an eye on the match between the All Blacks and Wallabies on Saturday morning, it was all about what the Boks had to do on the day to tick the boxes they’ve identified.
“The other match may have an influence at the end of the competition,” said Kolisi. “But our focus is on what we have to do on the day because we need to win this match to give ourselves the best possible chance to win the trophy.”
Stick said: “We’ll watch the game for sure, but regardless of what happens, it could still come down to the last match next weekend, so we’ll treat Argentina with the respect they deserve.
“They are a very disciplined team, they have threats all around the park, and similarly to us, they play with immense passion for their country and people, so it’s going to be a tough match without a doubt.”
The game kicks off at 17h10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Pexxious
The Bledisloe Cup is a rugby union competition held annually between the Wallabies and their fierce rivals, the New Zealand All Blacks. The competition dates back to 1931, and while the All Blacks have been the more dominant team in the contest, the matches between these two nations are always highly competitive and intense.
Spooky Yellowjacket
The record for the most consecutive victories in international rugby is held by the New Zealand All Blacks, who achieved a 47-match winning streak between August 2010 and December 2012.