After the mauling they got from Munster last week, the SA A team will be hoping for a much-improved performance against Bristol Bears on Thursday night.
While there was perhaps the understanding that the team only had two practice sessions together before the Munster game, their output as a team was nevertheless very disappointing and while it was hoped that some would be able to put pressure on those in the Bok squad, it never materialised.
Now, a week later and more time together, the A team shows a few changes - most notably the promising young Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who isn’t likely to sit in the pocket as much as Johan Goosen did last week.
The elevation of Grant Williams as well, who showed a lot of energy and ignited the A side in the second half should also give the team some impetus, while the forwards look just as mean and have a different hard edge about them with Marco van Staden in the pack.
Coach Mzwandile Stick is one who doesn’t want to use the excuse of little time together, but acknowledges the team need to do a whole lot better against Bristol this week.
“The key thing for us is of course to get better from last week. Like I said last week, it is not an excuse that we can use that we don’t have all the time in the world to prepare. At least we have a few more days to work on how we play,” Stick said.
“It is what it is, and I won’t make any excuses for it. The key thing for us is to get better on the things we did well. When we got an opportunity to attack in Munster’s half of the field, the forwards they really had a proper, proper game, they carried metres and they dominated physically.
“Where we were guilty was game management. We tried to play too much rugby in our half and the conditions didn’t allow it, and we made silly errors there. To give a team like Munster 22m entry, you’re always going to be under pressure. That is exactly what happened. We’re going to have to make sure we get better in that department in our kicking game.”
Stick spoke about how flat the team looked in that game, an understatement given the stature of the match and their lack of adventure against a Munster team determined to get a Bok scalp. And it is something that he wants to change on Thursday.
“The review that we had, we spoke about the opportunities we created. It felt for me as a coach that the guys didn’t really look excited. That’s something we encourage as a coaching team, for the guys to really look for those opportunities.and to get excited. That is the reason that made them who they are.
“The guys on the outside, like Leolin Zas and Suleiman (Hartzenberg), are players who, when they get the ball, always get that burst of energy. But I felt last week that the occasion was perhaps too much for them, too big for them. But we’ve spoken about looking for opportunities, when there is an opportunity to take the ball wide, they must take it. It is something we want this team to grow into.”
While Bristol are likely to play with the same determination and energy as Munster, the real key is what this A side will do. While one can understand a tough first outing, they have one more chance to show their talents and to make an impression on the Springbok selectors.
One game may not be enough, but a poor game leaves an indelible impression on those who make the decisions.
After all, if the Springboks could show the fight they did in Marseilles on Saturday after going down to 14 men early on, it shouldn’t be too much to expect the dirt trackers to put in the same fight.
And to try and end their tour on a high.
Prediction: SA A to shade it by 7 in an open, entertaining game.