‘Springboks not changing plans ahead of Argentina Test’ says Jacques Nienaber
Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber during a training session in 2023.
Although the Springboks’ recent defeat to the All Blacks was disappointing, it will not change their plans as they aim to strike a balance between player workload and results in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup.
That was the word from Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber as they aim to finish their Rugby Championship campaign on a high against Argentina at Emirates Airline Park on July 29.
After that, South Africa will be involved in three World Cup warm-up games against Argentina in Buenos Aires (August 5), Wales in Cardiff (August 19) and New Zealand at Twickenham (August 25).
Team selection will be crucial
Nienaber believes their team selection in those fixtures will be crucial role as they attempt to get the squad to peak at the right time.
“Our plans will remain the same for the Test against Argentina – the main thing for us now is to manage the players’ load,” he told the Springboks’ official website.
“It was our primary goal to win the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, but unfortunately that isn’t in our hands anymore. As things stand, Australia must do us a favour.
“The team we select to face Argentina will be a side we think will be good enough to beat Argentina, just as we selected teams we thought were good to enough to face the All Blacks and Australia.
“That match is going to be our last one at home this year, and it’s being hosted at an iconic stadium in Emirates Airline Park. It would be phenomenal to play in front of a full stadium because there aren’t many stadiums that are more intimidating that that.”
When reflecting on the Test against New Zealand at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, Nienaber said there were some good and bad points picked up from that fixture.
“We were concerned with the way we started the match, but the main positive is the way we clawed our way back after the first 20 minutes,” he said.
“We conceded four penalties to one in the first quarter, and we made handling errors that were totally out of character for the Springboks. But hats off the players for the way they shrugged it off and managed to get a foothold in the game.”
Commenting on the status of the injured players in the squad, Nienaber said: “Ox (Nche) is doing well. He’s back in camp after two weeks out, and he’ll probably be out for another four weeks or so.
“Handre (Pollard) and Siya (Kolisi) are also on the road to recovery and if everything goes well, hopefully they can play in the Rugby World Cup warm-up matches. We can’t predict for certain when they’ll be back, but what I can say is that we won’t push them.
“All three are players have done the job for us before and we know they’ll be able to come back from injury and play.”
With four matches left before they start the defence of their title at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, Springbok centre Jesse Kriel said he was thrilled to be in the wider squad.
He added that while every player in the group wanted as much game-time as possible, they believed in the coaches’ plans in terms of team selection.
‘Desperate to play’
“The team to face Argentina will only be selected next week, but of course I’m desperate to play,” said Kriel. “If you ask any player, they’ll tell you they want to play, but we understand that the selections are always based on what the team needs against specific opposition.”
Commenting on his rugby at Japanese club, Canon Eagles, Kriel said he is enjoying his time in the Land of the Rising Sun.
“It’s a foreign country with a different language and less distractions, so it allows you more time to work on your rugby. They also have an amazing work ethic over there and someone is always willing to help after training, so I think I’ve become a better player playing on that side.”
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