Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick admitted on Friday that the Springboks had learned many lessons from last weekend’s 24-17 defeat against New Zealand in Auckland as they gear up for Saturday’s Test against their archrivals in Wellington, with Stick saying they have to be at their best for the full 80 minutes.
A victory for the Springboks would see them retain the Freedom Cup against the All Blacks, which they won last year for the first time since 2009, while a win would also see them stay in the race to defend their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title and reclaim the top spot on the world rankings.
Stick shrugged off concerns surrounding the new look Bok backline, which many regard as youthful.
“A lot of the players in the backline have been in the system for a long time, and we think they are good combinations,” said Stick.
“Last week we had two soft moments early in the match, and we’ve learned from that. So, this week we must be at our best for the full 80 minutes.
“We also need to make sure that we are clinical in our execution and that we convert our chances into points.”