By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber on Saturday night named a group of 21 players to join their teammates in New Zealand for next week’s second Castle Lager Rugby Championship outing against New Zealand in Auckland.
The group includes Duane Vermeulen – who captained the Springboks in their emphatic 43-12 victory against Australia at Loftus Versfeld in their opening match of the southern hemisphere showpiece – as well as the front row of Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe (both props), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), and backs Manie Libbok (flyhalf), Lukhanyo Am (centre), Cobus Reinach and Grant Williams (both scrumhalves).
A group of 13 players travelled to New Zealand on Tuesday, which included injured skipper Siya Kolisi and a few team management members, while Vodacom Bulls prop Gerhard Steenekamp made the journey on Wednesday as an injury replacement for Ox Nche, taking the number of players in New Zealand to 14.
This group will depart for New Zealand late on Sunday afternoon and arrive in Auckland late on Monday night.
Nienaber, SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus and Bok assistant coach Felix Jones departed for New Zealand immediately after the Pretoria battle, which will allow them to get down to business on the field from Monday, giving them a full week of training.
“{It was always part of our planning that some of the players who ran out in the test against Australia would travel to New Zealand, and given someimpressive performances today, we decided to take a few more players than we originally planned for,” said Erasmus.
“We now have the luxury of having a bunch of fresh of players to work with in New Zealand from Monday, and they’ll be joined by a group who have experienced the physicality of Australia and who can add energy and momentum at training from Tuesday.
“We’ll analyse the match on our journey to New Zealand and then announce our team to face the All Blacks on Tuesday.”
Additional Springbok players travelling to New Zealand:
Forwards: Thomas du Toit (prop), Pieter-Steph du Toit (loose forward), Deon Fourie (utility forward), Steven Kitshoff (prop), Jean Kleyn (lock), Vincent Koch (prop) Frans Malherbe (prop), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Trevor Nyakane (prop), RG Snyman (lock), Marco van Staden (flank), Duane Vermeulen (No 8).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (centre), Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing), Andre Esterhuizen (centre), Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalf), Willie le Roux (fullback), Manie Libbok (flyhalf),Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf), Damian Willemse (utility back), Grant Williams (scrumhalf).
Meanwhile Australia were not good enough in every department and thoroughly outplayed by a rampant South Africa but coach Eddie Jones believes they will be better for the lessons learnt in their 43-12 Rugby Championship loss in Pretoria on Saturday.
Jones cut a disconsolate figure as he assessed the manner in which his side were picked apart by a Springbok team who scored six tries despite being without several of their regulars who were sent as an advanced party to New Zealand for next weekend’s fixture against the All Blacks in Auckland.
“We were outplayed everywhere, beaten in every department,” Jones told reporters. “Really disappointing but no excuses. We got a realistic appraisal of where we are as a team.”
Australia conceded two penalty tries, received two yellow cards and were forced into numerous errors with ball in hand.
“The discipline breakdown comes from pressure,” Jones said. “If you look at the stats, they (South Africa) had 66 per cent territory and 66 per cent possession. We were forced into the errors.
“There is a game next week (against Argentina in Sydney) and we will be better. It is a bad day at the office and we have to front up and play better than that.