London - Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer says his team’s tactical kicking game, defence and execution at the breakdowns were the three main factors that got them over the line against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
England had surged back in the second half to level the scores at 20-20, but the South Africans withstood the pressure and created opportunities for flyhalf Patrick Lambie to slot a late penalty and drop-goal to clinch a 31-28 victory.
That means that the Boks’ unbeaten run against England extends to 12 matches (11 wins and one draw) since their last defeat in 2006.
Lambie scored 16 points on his own through three penalties, two conversions and a drop-goal, but Bok coach Meyer will thank his forwards for a monumental effort in the scrums, line-outs and the gain-line battle.
The English pack threw everything they had at the South Africans, but they were forced backwards by a fired-up Bok unit that wanted to atone for a lacklustre display in terms of physicality against Ireland a week earlier.
And while England came back strongly to level the scores through two quick tries – when Victor Matfield was off the field with a yellow card for collapsing a maul – the Boks showed great determination to pull it through.
“I feel very blessed, and then I feel very relieved,” said Meyer.
“We were tactically astute, we worked on a few things and managed to execute.
“We were under pressure at 20-20 and the guys showed character to come back. Tactically, we played very well.
“We were great in our defence and much better tactically.
“It could’ve gone either way, and our set-pieces were very good tonight.
“The main difference between last week and this week was the breakdown. We had to clean better as England are very physical, and we managed to deal with that well.
“Last week we had all the ball, and we learned from that.
“Our defence and discipline was awesome, and they really came at us.
“But you have to play great rugby without the ball, too, and we did that.
“Wet game, we had to adjust and we were clinical and took the right decisions. We built up the score, but suddenly they came back. We showed good character at 20-20 to win the game in the end.”
The manner in which the players responded to the challenge laid down by the English would’ve given Meyer great satisfaction after the disappointing way in which they lost to Six Nations champions Ireland last week.
Winning at Twickenham will also allow him to provide opportunities to a few new players for next week’s Test against Italy in Padova, although he said last night that he had always planned to do so, regardless of the result against England.
But Meyer stated that tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis wouldn’t be available for the Italy Test after he limped off Twickenham yesterday with knee and hamstring injuries.
That should result in Coenie Oosthuizen starting at No3 on Saturday, with uncapped Lions tighthead Julian Redelinghuys coming on to the bench.
With some of the fringe players likely to get game-time against Italy, Schalk Burger will be returning to South Africa today already as he won’t be utilised in Padova, while he is unavailable for the final Test of the tour against Wales in Cardiff as that match falls outside of the IRB Test window, and overseas-based players cannot be considered for that game.
Burger’s absence could see Teboho Mohoje return to the No7 jersey, while Western Province No8 Nizaam Carr could come on to the bench as the loose-forward cover and possibly make his Test debut.
Sunday Independent