Back to square one for the Springboks

Sep 27 • General News, International, Rugby World Cup, RWC 2015 • 1612 Views • Comments Off on Back to square one for the Springboks

The Springboks scored their first win of the 2015 Rugby World Cup when they beat Samoa by 46-6 at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday, but coach Heyneke Meyer insisted it doesn’t change their situation going into their third pool match next weekend.

The South Africans scored six tries in a bruising encounter, with JP Pietersen dotting down three times – his first hat-trick in a Springbok jersey. Bryan Habana scored his 60th Test try in the dying moments of the match, while Schalk Brits got his first in the green and gold. Schalk Burger also crossed the tryline.

Man of the match Handre Pollard contributed 14 points with the boot via four penalty goals and a conversion, while Pat Lambie added a conversion. Samoa’s points came via the boot of Mike Stanley, who kicked two penalty goals in the first 12 minutes.

Springbok captain Jean de Villiers injured his jaw – more on this will only be known on Sunday morning. There were other bumps and bruises which will also be re-assessed on Sunday.

Meyer said: “I asked the senior players to put up their hands and they did. I am already focused for the next one (against Scotland in Newcastle on Saturday), so I won’t really have time to enjoy it, but I’m sure the players probably will.

“It’s always great to look yourself in the mirror and see how tough you are. I was especially proud of the defence. To keep out a quality unit such as Samoa, showed the players’ discipline. They put their bodies on the line.

“It’s said that tries put bums on seats but defence wins trophies. If you asked me, I probably enjoyed our mauling and the solid defence more than the tries.”

Meyer lauded the Springbok pack: “I thought our forward play was superb. I said to the players, ‘People don’t respect our forwards any more. It’s time we put up our hands and play like South African forwards’.

“One of the most pleasing things for me, and the purists will probably agree, was how great it was to see a green pack of forwards going forward – the first time in a while.”

Vice-captain Victor Matfield agreed that it was pleasing to see the Springboks bounce back following the disappointing defeat to Japan in the opening round.

“It’s been one of the toughest weeks with the Boks for all of us,” said Matfield.

“But still people supported us amazingly and I probably received the most messages of encouragement I’ve ever had playing for the Boks.

“There are lots of loyal Springboks fans out there and we know we disappointed them last week. Hopefully we made them happy but we know it’s only one game. Next weekend we start all over again and we’re actually still in exactly the same position we were in after the last match.”

Matfield also praised Meyer for taking the lead in trying circumstances for the Boks: “Coach Heyneke was fantastic, he was at his motivational best this week and it is so easy to follow him when he is like this.”