Port ElizabethIt was a bit of a frosty morning in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday. The strong wind - or “slight breeze” as the hardy locals refer to it - made it even worse, as it sliced through this majestic stadium, leaving goose bumps on the uncovered parts of the body.
However, on the practice fields behind this former 2010 World Cup venue with the red and orange seats, the temperature got considerably higher during the course of the Springbok forwards’ training session.
And it got even hotter when they imparted some of their frustrations on the poor scrum machine, which was left battered and bruised by the South African team’s heavies.
There was a lot of purpose to the Springboks’ scrum session on Tuesday. It’s not like they usually slack off during other scrum sessions, but on Tuesday they seemed to train with a tad more focus and aggression, because it’s things that they have lacked in this department in the first two Test against Ireland.
Like the maul, the scrum is part of the Springboks’ DNA. South African front-row forwards normally lick their lips in anticipation when the referee puts his hands together to signal a scrum.
But over the last two weeks the Boks have struggled in this department against Ireland, and have conceded a lot of scrum penalties.It’s a big problem, because the scrum is an area where the Boks love to get momentum and to get their phases going. But they haven’t really had a stable platform to work from so far.
Tighthead Frans Malherbe is a very good operator in the scrum, but he hasn’t been at his best so far in this series. The same goes for the rest of an experienced front row, which also consists of veterans Tendai Mtawarira and Adriaan Strauss.However, The Beast believes they can still come to the party in Saturday’s third Test in the Eastern Cape city.
”Ireland are a formidable side up front, but I think as a team we have been improving. We could have done better on their ball, but it’s a work in progress and something that we are working on every week,” the veteran loosehead prop said on Tuesday.
The Irish have done really well on their own ball, as they surprised the Boks with a second and even a third shove during the match at Ellis Park.
Forwards coach Matt Proudfoot always talks about making good decisions at scrum time, about when to attack and when to hold back. Ireland have certainly been very smart in this regard, as they have chosen their battles well. The Boks will really have to up their game in this regard.
”I think we went to sleep quite a bit and the second shove caught us out. We thought the ball was out and it wasn’t. They kept on scrumming,” Mtawarira said.”It’s just a whole team effort, the pack has to work together and work hard before the ball gets out. There was a little bit of miscommunication, but it’s something that can be sorted out.
”The Boks lost one of their main impact players at scrum time Trevor Nyakane on Tuesday when he was ruled out of Saturday’s decider with an ankle injury.Nyakane joins No 8 Duane Vermeulen (elbow) and Lood de Jager (calf) on the injured list.
All three players left the camp on Tuesday and will not be considered for selection.
Lions No 8 Warren Whitley, who is struggling with a shoulder niggle, again didn’t take contact on Tuesday, but is expected to be ready for the match.But one man that is ready to run out on Saturday is Steven Kithshoff, who will be on the bench for the Boks following Nyakane’s injury.
The France-based loosehead has had to bide his time over the last few weeks to win his first cap. But the way he has been climbing in during the practice sessions suggests that he can’t wait to get on the field.
”Steven has been around for a while, he is an experienced loosehead now and I think going overseas has enabled him to learn a few tricks. “We’re feeding off each other and I’m really excited to see him make his debut, I’m sure he’ll bring a lot of energy and be a real force on Saturday,” Mtawarira said.
”He knows our systems very well and it’s not just been about him learning from me, but I’m also learning from him, he’s got a lot to offer.”
The Star