The mood in the Springbok camp remains good, but complacency is nowhere to be found as lock Ruan Nortje prepares to partner with Eben Etzebeth in the engine room once again this weekend in Soweto at 17:10 SAST.
Reflecting on the team's internal energy, Nortje confirmed that the squad's preparation and drive have not wavered.
“The vibe has been really good; I wouldn’t say it’s very different to last week,” said Nortje. “Every week is a Test week. In our camp, it’s all about sticking to our processes and working hard during the week, and when we work, we work as hard as possible.”
The Springbok lineout delivered a commanding performance last week, but Nortje made it clear that the coaching staff and the players are chasing perfection rather than satisfaction.
“The set pieces were good last week, but we’ll never be satisfied with just good. We always want to be better," Nortje explained. "We were happy with how the lineouts went, but this is a new week. We’ve put in a lot of effort working out what we want to do since Sunday, and during the week we execute it in training."
While the groundwork is laid out systematically on the training field, the Bulls captain understands that Test match rugby requires instant problem-solving under maximum pressure.
"Once one gets into the game, it’s about adapting, and if we’re under pressure, to look at what to do differently and adjust. A lot of credit has to go to the coaches and players in that process. But this is a new week and a fresh challenge.”
With Etzebeth's unparalleled experience alongside Nortje's work rate, South Africa's tight five looks fully equipped to handle whatever opposition comes their way this weekend.
