Springbok assistant coach Matt Proudfoot has warned that a rugby war will break out when his men get to grips with Ireland in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Proudfoot has emphasised that his team will have to make a fast start and be ready to counter an all-out Irish assault at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
“It is it is going to be a war‚” Proudfoot predicted ahead of the series decider which is locked at 1-1.
“The Irish know they have an opportunity. They are not going to back out of this challenge.
“I think it is going to be fantastic. We are looking at a big crowd in Port Elizabeth at this beautiful stadium.
“It is really‚ really nice to be part of it and realising how passionate the country is about the Springbok brand is special. The players realise that responsibility and it really gets you excited waking up in the morning‚” Proudfooot said.
The Springbok assistant coach said the team must get out of the starting blocks faster in the decider.
“It is going to have to be a superb start for us. We are going to have to be really accurate in the first half and apply massive physical pressure in all our set pieces.
“I think our scrum has been good‚ but poor on the opposition ball. Now it is going to have to be good in both departments. Our maul must be superb and we must control territory‚” Proudfoot said.
He said there was a huge step up for players from Super Rugby‚ French First league rugby to test level.
“People must not underestimate that difference. It is just different. If you have not been there‚ even for us coaches‚ it is a different environment.
“The level for making errors is so much smaller. The coaching staff you are facing are intelligent‚ sharp guys and they do their home work
“If you have a lack of detail they will catch you.”
Meanwhile‚ Sharks prop Coenie Oosthuizen will join the Springboks on Wednesday as extra front row cover following the withdrawal of Trevor Nyakane‚ who is struggling with an ankle injury.
The experienced Oosthuizen was called up to the Bok camp to cover the loosehead and tighthead positions.
Nyakane hurt his ankle last Saturday in the Boks’ win over Ireland in the test played in Johannesburg.
The 27-year-old Oosthuizen has earned 23 Springboks caps to date and recently played for the SA ‘A’ side in their two-match series against the England Saxons.
Nyakane joins Vermeulen and Lood de Jager (calf) on the injured list. All three players have left the Springbok camp.
Bok management confirmed that three players — Scarra Ntubeni (Stormers)‚ Nic Groom (Stormers) and Garth April (Sharks) — have returned to their franchises.
The Bok team will be named tomorrow.
Proudfoot bracing himself for war when the Springboks clash with Ireland
Proudfoot has emphasised that his team will have to make a fast start and be ready to counter an all-out Irish assault at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
“It is it is going to be a war‚” Proudfoot predicted ahead of the series decider which is locked at 1-1.
“The Irish know they have an opportunity. They are not going to back out of this challenge.
“I think it is going to be fantastic. We are looking at a big crowd in Port Elizabeth at this beautiful stadium.
“It is really‚ really nice to be part of it and realising how passionate the country is about the Springbok brand is special. The players realise that responsibility and it really gets you excited waking up in the morning‚” Proudfooot said.
The Springbok assistant coach said the team must get out of the starting blocks faster in the decider.
“It is going to have to be a superb start for us. We are going to have to be really accurate in the first half and apply massive physical pressure in all our set pieces.
“I think our scrum has been good‚ but poor on the opposition ball. Now it is going to have to be good in both departments. Our maul must be superb and we must control territory‚” Proudfoot said.
He said there was a huge step up for players from Super Rugby‚ French First league rugby to test level.
“People must not underestimate that difference. It is just different. If you have not been there‚ even for us coaches‚ it is a different environment.
“The level for making errors is so much smaller. The coaching staff you are facing are intelligent‚ sharp guys and they do their home work
“If you have a lack of detail they will catch you.”
Meanwhile‚ Sharks prop Coenie Oosthuizen will join the Springboks on Wednesday as extra front row cover following the withdrawal of Trevor Nyakane‚ who is struggling with an ankle injury.
The experienced Oosthuizen was called up to the Bok camp to cover the loosehead and tighthead positions.
Nyakane hurt his ankle last Saturday in the Boks’ win over Ireland in the test played in Johannesburg.
The 27-year-old Oosthuizen has earned 23 Springboks caps to date and recently played for the SA ‘A’ side in their two-match series against the England Saxons.
Nyakane joins Vermeulen and Lood de Jager (calf) on the injured list. All three players have left the Springbok camp.
Bok management confirmed that three players — Scarra Ntubeni (Stormers)‚ Nic Groom (Stormers) and Garth April (Sharks) — have returned to their franchises.
The Bok team will be named tomorrow.
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