Springbok Faf De Klerk's warning for the Lions
Faf De Klerk has warned the British and Irish Lions to beware the “wounded” Springboks fighting their way back into an already compelling Test series.
The Lions turned a 12-3 half-time deficit on its head for a 22-17 first Test win in Cape Town on Saturday, stunning their world champion hosts.
Luke Cowan-Dickie’s driving maul try, 14 points from the boot of Dan Biggar and a match-securing penalty from Owen Farrell shocked the Boks, who faded as the contest wore on.
South Africa scrum-half De Klerk has insisted however that the frustrated home side will not accept any repeat when the teams meet again for the second Test next weekend.
“We are a proud team, a proud nation, we definitely will make sure we rectify the errors that we made,” said De Klerk.
“That’s pretty much it, we’ll definitely come back with a bit more fire in our belly.
“A bit more anger, but we need to control the anger to make sure our discipline is in check.
“If our discipline is good and we can sort out our aerial battle, we should be all good going forward.
“It’s going to be another massive challenge next week, but we’re looking forward to it.
"You have to win in multiple ways and can’t rely on a one-dimensional game plan. You have to be strong in all areas to withstand different challenges. If you can’t, you’ll be knocked off your perch."
– @bensmithrugby on the first Springboks-Lions test. https://t.co/mvBQBYkJPQ— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 25, 2021
“We’re wounded Springboks, we like having our backs against the wall and we can fight our way out of that.”
South Africa were left to rue disallowed tries for Damian De Allende and Willie Le Roux.
De Allende’s chalked-off score raise little debate, due to a knock-on in the build-up from Cheslin Kolbe.
Le Roux was ruled offside from Makazole Mapimpi’s chip after a Television Match Official (TMO) review, denying the full-back a fine counter-attack score.
South African Marius Jonker’s presence as TMO had enraged the Lions, with World Rugby unable to provide a neutral official after New Zealand’s Brendon Pickerill had to withdraw due to Covid-related travel problems.
South Africa's rugby voices react to the Springboks loss in Cape Town. #RSAvBIL #Springboks https://t.co/ElDPry01lK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 25, 2021
But it was Jonker who thwarted the Boks over Le Roux’s rejected score, and the scrutinised TMO was also satisfied a tackle from Hamish Watson merited merely a penalty and no stronger sanction.
The Springboks coaches refused to question any of the refereeing calls on the night in a mature response, and De Klerk insisted South Africa must not seek to explain away their loss.
“They are a quality side and the challenge for us, from a Lions point of view, is that the guy that comes off the bench is probably better or just as good as the guy that’s playing,” said De Klerk.
“That’s the challenge we have to face, our discipline slipped in the second half.
“If we could replay the first five minutes of the second half it would probably be a different outcome. A really close game, a few decisions maybe, not wrong but could have gone either way.
REF WATCH: 'For me there were simply too many aspects of the officiating which were inconsistent with standard operating practice.'
Former ref Paul Smith ??? on Le Roux's no try, Watson's no yellow, calling mauls & more #LionsRugby #BoksvLions #RSAvBIL https://t.co/jofr3lZZkI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 25, 2021
“We’re very disappointed in the changing room, the boys are really gutted.
“It’s a three-Test series, so we need to hold our heads up high. There’s a lot of guys who haven’t played for a long time, it was great to be out there with the boys again.
“A lot of learnings, but there can’t be any more excuses. We have to take this on the chin and move forward.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Should've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to comments