Rugby
KweséESPN staff 7y

Coetzee finds room for improvement despite Springboks' 22-point win

Rugby, Rugby Championship

Springbok coach has Allister Coetzee has warned that that further improvement in key areas will be needed, despite the team's 37-15 win over Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Coetzee was speaking after the Boks opened their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign with a four-try performance to please not only the 43 513 spectators, but the 54-year-old coach too.

"I am very pleased with the win, although it was not a perfect performance," said Coetzee.

The Boks scored four tries, with wings Courtnall Skosan and Raymond Rhule crossing for their first Test tries, while vice captain Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit also dotted down. Meanwhile, flyhalf Elton Jantjies added 17 points with the boot.

"We did some good things out there, our scrums were outstanding, with [man of the match] Coenie Oosthuizen delivering an exceptional performance, our mauling has improved and once again the bench made a telling difference when called upon.

"But for us to deliver another winning performance, we need to improve in a number of areas, such as tactical kicking and our lineouts."

Coetzee was pleased with the patience the Springboks showed on attack, which may well prove even more key next Saturday in Argentina's backyard.

"The Pumas were a tough team to break down and a lot of credit must go to the leadership of the team, who stayed patient," said Coetzee.

"The message at halftime was to stay patient and keep on doing what we were doing. We also needed to play in behind them, they were leaving gaps at the back and I think we exploited that. We managed to create the space and the players backed themselves when that happened."

At times, Argentina put the Springbok defence under pressure but the coach was proud of how his team stood up as a unit to thwart the visitors.

"The Argentineans are very physical, but we were spot-on with our defensive tactics. They attacked us close to the rucks and we were ready for that, with the guys putting in some big tackles and double hits."

Meanwhile, Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth was also pleased with the performance -- the Boks' fourth successive victory this season and second with the big lock as stand-in captain.

"We wanted to play in their half and we managed to keep them down there and punished their mistakes," said Etzebeth.

"We must try and take some of this momentum into next week's game. We need to change the mind-set that away matches are tough and try to stay positive."

In an unusual move ahead of an away match, Coetzee indicated that they will stay and train in Port Elizabeth until Tuesday. Thereafter the squad of 28 players and management will travel to Salta (where the team will play in a once-off commemorative red kit), via Johannesburg, Sao Paulo in Brazil and the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires.

"Most of the work will be done here and hopefully that will freshen us up for next weekend's match in Salta," said Coetzee.

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