Photo Credit - Gallo Images
Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am highlighted the physical battle and the importance of adapting to what happens on the field as the South Africans gear up for the second Test against the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Test is crucial as a victory for the Springboks will level the scores in the Castle Lager Lions Series, with one match to go, while defeat would secure a series victory for the visitors.
With this in mind, the match is expected to be another epic encounter given the quality of the teams named by Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber and his British & Irish Lions counterpart Warren Gatland on Tuesday.
Am and his midfield partner Damian de Allende, who both started for the Springboks last week, will line up against a new Lions centre pairing in Chris Harris and Robbie Henshaw, while the other change to the Lions' backline was at scrumhalf, where Conor Murray was selected in place of Ali Price.
Am anticipated that this would bring a different dynamic to their opponents on Saturday.
“We’ll obviously prepare as much as we can (for the British & Irish Lions),” said Am.
“We saw the different type of players they had in the first and second half of the first Test, and we’ll definitely look at the personnel they’ve included in the second Test and prepare as well as possible so that we can counter whatever they bring.”
The Rugby World Cup-winning midfielder was cautious about trying to predict the type of rugby the visitors would play and said their focus was on preparing as well as they could for the match.
“We’ll never know the British & Irish Lions’ plans, but we are very good at adapting and reading what is happening on the field,” said Am.
“We obviously expect some sort of a change because of their change in personnel, but we’ll be prepared for that and be aware of it during the game.”
With the aerial battle again expected to be a key area in the match, Am said: “In Test match rugby there is a lot of kicking involved, so there will always be an aerial battle.
“In our system we’ve always had backs as covers to try to counter that. We have been working hard on that area since 2018, and we are still doing so as it offers us a nice opportunity to win possession as well as to retain possession when a team kicks to us.”
With the opening Test boasting a few big defensive hits – one of which was by Am on Elliott Daly, who is on the bench this weekend – he said it was important for the Boks to impose themselves physically.
“It was my first Test of the Series and it was at the beginning of the game and the emotions were high, and it was quite intentional in setting the standards and stamping down the physicality we wanted to impose from the first minute to the 80th min.
“As a team we’ve always have a good defensive mindset, which we are proud of, and this weekend will be another physical battle.”