Boks must brush up in these four areas in second Test against Ireland

After a nervy 27-20 win against Ireland in the primary Test at Loftus Versfeld final weekend, the Springboks will look to go back-to-back in Durban on Saturday to seal a 2-0 sequence win. In what guarantees to be one other intently fought sport, the Boks shall be out to enhance in four key areas to get the job executed.

With kick-off at 5pm, The Citizen highlights the departments that coach Rassie Erasmus will wish to see enchancment in.

Rucks

With new assistant Tony Brown on board and the Boks now enjoying a extra attack-minded sport, loose-forwards Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kwagga Smith frequently discovered themselves among the many backs, enjoying linking roles, in the primary Test.

While it labored effectively for probably the most half and the Boks seemed extra threatening with ball in hand, the transfer left the crew quick on numbers (and cleaners) at instances on the rucks and breakdowns.

Ireland dominated in these areas, successful good clear ball, and a few turn-overs, and Bok No 9 Faf de Klerk was additionally put beneath loads of strain. The Boks will have to be higher right here on Saturday.

Set-pieces

While the Boks have been first rate sufficient in the scrums and lineouts in the primary Test, successful 100% of their scrum feeds and 92% of their lineouts, in accordance with sure statistics keepers, the world champions’ show in these departments was removed from scientific.

In truth, the Boks’ scrum was dominated by Ireland in the early phases of the match at Loftus (whether or not legally and pretty is one other matter) and solely afterward did it get the upper-hand, successful a couple of penalties and being rewarded for a giant effort with a Penalty Try.

The lineout, too, was just a little erratic, and the Boks will hope for a greater, cleaner displaying in Durban.

Goal-kicking

One of the important thing the reason why the Boks gained the World Cup in France final 12 months was due to Handre Pollard’s 100% kicking file in the one-point wins in the quarter-final, semi-final and remaining. The flyhalf’s goal-kicking accuracy is likely one of the essential causes for being the crew’s first-choice flyhalf.

Last Saturday although Pollard missed three penalty kicks at objective – 9 factors going begging.

The Boks have been fortunate that Irish No 10 Jack Crowly additionally missed a couple of pictures at objective. In the second Test, which is more likely to be as tight and shut as the primary match, Pollard must be spot-on along with his kicks at objective.

Finishing

One can argue the world champions received fortunate at Loftus with a Penalty Try awarded to them, whereas Cheslin Kolbe’s second half attempt, after James Lowe’s good work to maintain the ball in play, was additionally extraordinarily fortuitous.

Also, the truth is that Kurt-Lee Arendse’s first half attempt got here from a deep play, with the Boks unable to take advantage of a number of (some say eight, others say 9) 22m space entries throughout the sport.

There is so little to decide on between these two groups, ranked one and two in the world, that they merely must take advantage of the probabilities they create.

Erasmus and Co will hope the Boks are extra scientific in the “red zone” in Durban.