Lack of realism, bankrupt scorers, domination in the rucks… South Africa knows where it went wrong on Saturday evening against Ireland (13-8).
At the Stade de France
It’s not every day that South Africa bites the dust, when they have been dominated physically. However, it was the tour de force that Ireland achieved on Saturday evening at the Stade de France, dominating the world champions Springboks (13-8). “It was a difficult match. It was physical”, recognized second row Eben Etzebeth, former RC Toulon player. A stifling standoff that the South Africans lost, lacking realism and effectiveness against the poles. Eleven points left on the way is far too many against a machine as efficient as the XV du Trèfle.
«Ireland found the means to beat us. We conceded points to them and missed penalties, could only regret coach Jacques Nienaber. We were unable to cross their line. We missed opportunities.» And to continue: “We had opportunities to score points, and not just on the feet, there were opportunities in the game, especially during the first half. In the second half we missed more chances.» Several highlights were thus spoiled due to hand mistakes and small slags.
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More problematic for the champions of the excessive physical challenge: the Boks lost the battle of the rucks, an area in which they generally impose a reign of terror. “This is an area in which Ireland played outstandingly this (Saturday) evening. This is one of the reasons why we had difficulty breaking them”, concedes Jacques Nienaber. Often, his team tried to play, to open the game, as if it refused to confront the Irish head-on in the ground fight. “I think we lacked precision,” confirms flanker and captain Siya Kolisi. We didn’t know how to keep the ball and turn the game around. But the players take their responsibilities. We hope to be able to improve on this point for the next match.
“When you don’t seize opportunities, the result is what it is…”
Another problem, more worrying and recurring since the start of the competition, South Africa does not have a reliable scorer. Fly-half Mannie Libbok and scrum-half Faf de Klerk left behind no less than 11 points: three penalties and a conversion. It was against Scotland and Romania, not against Ireland, in a knife match. After Libbok’s failures against Scotland, Kolisi stepped up to defend his scorer. “We are a team, and sometimes things don’t go as planned. I can also miss tackles, but above all we have to remain a team“, he said. This Saturday evening, change of speech. “We want to improve in this sector, he admitted. Today, we did not seize the opportunities and when we do not seize the opportunities, the result is what it is…”
Stung, the Boks know they cannot rest on their laurels. Before this World Cup, they were sure of their strengths, lining up unprecedented benches in 7-1 (seven forwards, one back) during the crushing victory against the All Blacks in a preparation match then this Saturday against Ireland. At the Stade de France, the famous “bomb squad» (the mine clearance team), which entered in force in the 50th minute of play, did not have the desired effect. “It was just a team composition. We thought it was the best way to be competitive this (Saturday) evening. We didn’t get the expected result but we were competitive”nevertheless advances coach Jacques Nienaber.
The rest is now marked out with a quarter-final looming against the XV of France. “We knew this match (against Ireland) would be difficult, even before the World Cup started. You shouldn’t dwell too much on a defeat, you have to bounce back and concentrate on the next match. That’s what’s important», insists captain Siya Kolisi. The Springboks first have one last group match against Tonga, next Sunday (9 p.m.) in Marseille. Before thinking about the Blues. “We will focus on that now, then the knockout matches will come. I can not wait to be there”Eben Etzebeth is already salivating.
