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Springboks' message to fans upset at worst losing streak since 2016
The under pressure Springboks have addressed the mounting criticism from their own fans ahead of this Saturday’s final Rugby Championship match versus the All Blacks on the Gold Coast. South Africa are currently on their worst Test game losing streak since 2016 when the lost their last four matches that year, getting hammered at home by the All Blacks before drawing a blank on their European tour against England, Italy and Wales.
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Currently under Jacques Nienaber they have lost all three matches since their arrival in Australia, losing twice to the Wallabies and again last weekend versus New Zealand. While two of those losses were confirmed by last-gasp penalties from Quade Cooper and Jordie Barrett as a time when the Springboks were poised to take Championship victories, the general commentary about the team’s form hasn’t been kind.
Having followed up their 2019 World Cup triumph with success in the recent Test series versus the Lions, Springboks fans are not used to losing and there is upset about a run of defeats that hasn’t been experienced for five years dating back to the era when Allister Coetzee was unconvincingly in charge of the team.
Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi understood why supporters are feeling anguished about their disappointing Championship. He even put himself in their shoes at an eve-of-match media conference at Surfers Paradise, describing now he gets upset as a fan when the various sports teams that he follows such as Liverpool FC don’t win, but he insisted the recent run of losses isn’t down to any lack of effort.
“Some guys read and some guys don’t read the stuff on social media,” he said. “People are impressionable about rugby now and we can’t get upset about that. People were happy with us but now they are upset and it’s good for us. It’s not good obviously what we are going through right now losing three games in a row but people care.
Rassie has suddenly been busy again on social media… ?#Springboks #RugbyChampionship #TRC2021 #RSAvNZLhttps://t.co/LH201tHVM3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 29, 2021
“That is the thing. People care and this team means different things to different people. I can’t get upset with that. When I watch my favourite sporting team (Liverpool), I get upset, I get emotional, so I can’t get upset with people (over the Springboks). It is tough. Friends and family are also hurting so it is understandable. It hurts and we’re hurting too. We are here preparing the whole time to try and win the games and when we lose and it is tough on us and we understand what people are going through.
“As teammates, all we can do is keep on working. We went back after the game (last weekend) and went, ‘What could we have done, how many opportunities could we have taken?’ You look at the game and you see, yes, we could have done that better there, if our discipline was better, if we didn’t give someone so many penalties, all those kind of things, and we worked again on them this week.
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“All we can control mon Saturday is our discipline and what we do, going in and giving it our best. That is all we can do. We are hurting as well as the supporters. There is nothing any of us in this team and this management can say. Results are the only thing. There is nothing I can say to change how people feel, only by the way we play Saturday.
“It’s all about results at the end of the day and the results are not showing that the effort is there, the attitude is there. The biggest thing for is us to just play and hopefully we will get a result and hopefully in our efforts you can see we are not giving up, we are not even thinking about that kind of stuff. But the only way you can tell people (this) is by winning and the effort that you put in.”
The latest from former #Springboks scrum-half Neil de Kock ?
The All Blacks conceded a record 24 turnovers in Townsville and the Boks were only able to notch a solitary try. The Springboks backs need to change their mindset. #RSAvNZLhttps://t.co/ZyjoqSzpJJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 1, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments