Cape Town - Springbok coach Allister Coetzee remains all too aware of the threat the All Blacks pose in the upcoming Rugby Championship tournament but believes the Boks have the wherewithal to compete effectively.
With the conclusion of the 2016 Super Rugby season in sight, Coetzee will be taking stock of all that has transpired.
Of particular concern to Coetzee will be the performances of the South African Super Rugby teams, bar the Lions, and the outright dominance of the New Zealand sides.
The Lions seem to have mapped out the blueprint to confidently beating Kiwi teams at their own game, and in so doing earned themselves a spot in the Super Rugby final against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.
Coetzee will name his 31-man Springbok squad for the looming Rugby Championship after the Super Rugby final and will no doubt be keeping a close eye on proceedings.
The Lions elegantly dismantled the Crusaders and Highlanders in the playoffs leading up to the final clash, and the Bok coach would have noted that. If Coetzee can somehow manage to leverage the Johannesburg side's success against high-flying New Zealand teams, he could very well be on track to a rare win against the All Blacks early on in his tenure.
“The Lions' performances do give us as Springboks confidence,” said Coetzee. “But New Zealand have about 100 players who can play at that level while we have 20-30.”
While the Bok mentor acknowledges the strength and intimidating depth the All Blacks currently have at their disposal, he does feel that on any given match day, the Springboks could still mount a credible challenge. “They can only select 23 players just like us. If we get our combinations right we will always be competitive as Springboks.”
Coetzee believes a major factor in the Lions' winning ways is their increased intensity, and their split-second decision-making when it counts most. He also praised their work ethic and how hard they play for each other.
“That's been the difference between NZ sides and other teams in the last little while and maybe it's to do with their depth because their players have to work so much harder to retain their places.”
Before the Springboks can measure themselves against the All Blacks, however, they will first have to face Argentina in their Rugby Championship opener on August 20 in Nelspruit.
Coetzee's first trial as Springbok coach came in the mid-year Test series against Ireland, which SA narrowly won 2-1, and it won't get any easier against Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.
“Our style of play won't be complete in our second competition as a group,” said Coetzee. “I still have to make sure I select the best group of players to win a Test match against Argentina.”
The Springbok coach has already begun cleaning house and has excluded veterans such as JP Pietersen and Willie le Roux from his training camp plans. He is expected to rope in a few more Lions players who have put up their hands this season, with Malcolm Marx leading the charge as the backup hooker to incumbent captain Adriaan Strauss.
Coetzee also alluded to the fact that he would be looking to the Springbok Sevens team for more player personnel once they have fulfilled their duties at the 2016 Rio Olympics. - African News Agency (ANA)