Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber is not blinkered and not in denial.
Despite the excellent eight-try rout in Cardiff where the Boks thrashed Wales 52-16, there were still a few poor moments. And it’s those that will have the coach’s attention in the coming weeks as the All Blacks loom at Twickenham on Friday, 25 August.
“We have to get better going into France,” Nienaber said. “We’re on the side of the draw that’s knockout from game one and just to get out of our pool will be a challenge.
“Everyone would know that it’s our aim to go back-to-back and retain the World Cup and we can’t hide from it. We want to be the second team to successfully defend it and the bonus would be that we’d be the first team to win four World Cups.
“It’s a massive thing that we’re playing for, and you can talk around it but that’s our goal – and to achieve it we’ll have to get better.
He knows that flyhalf Manie Libbok is struggling from the tee – after landing five out of nine during South Africa’s mauling of Wales at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Manie Libbok of South Africa is tackled by Elliot Dee of Wales during the Summer International match between Wales and South Africa at Principality Stadium on 19 August 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo: Alex Davidson / Getty Images)
Nienaber is also not prone to panic and knee-jerk reactions. Libbok is the only fit flyhalf in the squad. For now, he remains the only option – and a very good one at that.
Handré Pollard, who partook in the pre-match warm-ups and drills without any obvious signs of discomfort after a lengthy calf muscle injury lay-off, could come into the 33-man squad if someone is injured.
But that’s conjecture at this point because as it stands Libbok is the man Nienaber and director of rugby Rassie Erasmus have backed. And they will continue to do so.
Libbok’s contribution to the comfortable win over Wales – outside of goalkicking – was excellent. Some commanding general play, kicking accurately with both feet, lovely ghosting runs and sublime passing showed why he is easy to love. That love is tested when he kicks for goal at the moment though.
Everyone, including the Bok coaching staff, knows that to win a World Cup, he will have to be more ruthless in front of the posts. And they will continue to work to make Libbok better.
Jacques Nienaber, head coach of South Africa, looks on ahead of the Summer International match between Wales and South Africa at Principality Stadium on 19 August 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo: Warren Little / Getty Images)
Kolisi happy
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…. to be continued
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