Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said the Boks were preparing for an intense battle against the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday as they wrap up this leg of their international season, while Andre Esterhuizen was in awe of being handed the captaincy for the test.
The match at the Optus Stadium kicks off at 11h45 (SA time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
“We are excited about the guys getting an opportunity after a tough four weeks against the All Blacks (in the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series), especially guys such as Canan Moodie and Handre Pollard, who were close to playing in one of the games and then got injured,” said Stick.
“I’m also thrilled to see a guy like Herschel Jantjies. He’s probably only played about 25 minutes this season, but he’s been great in training sessions, so I’m very excited for him to get a chance.”
Stick added: “We always want to build squad depth. Obviously, the goal was slightly different when it came to the series against the All Blacks, because we treated it more like playoffs or a Rugby World Cup scenario.
“But this game against Australia gives us an opportunity to give other guys a chance to see what they’ve got. They have worked very hard to be where they are and they deserve the opportunity, so hopefully tomorrow can also be a good game.”
Commenting on the threat the Wallabies posed, Stick said: “Australia is going to be tough. You can’t ask for better preparation going to the World Cup than playing against the host nation.
“We learnt a lot from what happened at Ellis Park (last year when the Boks suffered a 38-22 defeat) after 20 minutes where we were leading by 24 points and then drifted away from our plan.
“But if you look at the team they’ve selected, it’s probably their best possible 23, so it’s going to be a tough challenge. Looking at their backline, they’ve got powerful runners in that centre partnership, and they’ve selected a wing with a strong kicking game. They are a team that showed that if you’re not good on the day, they can punish you.
“They’ve won four of their last five games, drawing one against Argentina, and with their new coaching staff, there’s a new energy in their team, so they’re in a good space. The key thing for us is to stick to what works and keep getting better.”
'BUILDING OUR GAME'
Zooming further into the Wallabies game, Stick said: “If you look at their whole 23, we know what’s coming. Those guys are strong ball carriers, and even the players on the bench have a lot of experience. But the key thing for us is to focus on what we want to achieve, to keep building our game, and to keep getting better at the things we want to do.
“We take pride in our defence, our kicking game, and our set pieces, and tomorrow will offer an opportunity for the guys getting a chance to build towards where we want to go.”
The 32-year-old Esterhuizen, who made his test debut in 2018 and has grown into one of the leaders in the squad, was ecstatic about leading the team for the first time.
“Being a leader at your franchise prepares you, but also in saying that it’s so much easier here with so many guys around you that are all leaders,” said Esterhuizen, who will become the 68th Bok skipper in history.
“They help you in different areas of the game. So, to step up into this is quite comfortable. It’s a privilege, and although I will be in the captaincy role it’s still all about the team.
“Ultimately, it's about what we all do together on the field. I'm taking it on as an honour and I’m very happy about it, but in the end it’s about the squad.”
Asked if he had learned any lessons about the role from regular Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who was also released from the camp along with Thomas du Toit with sufficient cover in the team ahead of Saturday’s test, Esterhuizen said: “If you look at Siya, he’s been a tremendous leader for the Springboks.
“I’ve obviously played with him at the Sharks, and just always seeing him remain composed and calm, no matter what the situation, is amazing. He knows when to step back and when to step up, so I’ve taken a lot from him.”