Springboks focus on key improvements ahead of Italy decider

Improvement in certain areas of their game plan is what the Springboks are chasing on Saturday when they take on Italy in the second and final Test match in Gqeberha.

They’ve identified a few key aspects, like the breakdown and set piece, where they want to do better in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (5.10 pm start) as they look to seal the series.

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus made several changes for Saturday’s clash and while it could cost the team some continuity, they want to see other players get some needed game time ahead of a jam-packed season.

“We always want to build strong squad depth, and I am happy for the guys who are getting an opportunity in this game,” Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said on Friday.

“They didn’t get a chance against the Barbarians or in the first Test, but they are getting that opportunity now in the second game. This will be a tough clash. Last week was our first official Test match for the year. If I look at the first half and the intensity we started with, that is exactly what we wanted.

“However, we didn’t follow that up in the second half. We started up 28-3 and in the second half, we saw how they played. I said that not a lot of people have seen the growth in the Italian side under their new coaching staff. They had good results in the Six Nations.”

Stick highlighted the Italian kicking game and their dangerous outside backs as two of their main weapons. The key thing is for the Springboks is to improve their play as they head into the second Test of the season.

On the potential debuts of tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, utility forward Cobus Wiese and utility back Ethan Hooker, Stick is excited.

“Ethan has a lot of potential, the way he is playing for the Sharks. The debut of Asenathi will also be special. Ethan is a brilliant player. If you put him on the wing, he performs. You put him at centre, he performs. Hopefully, he will get an opportunity, and we make it special for them (the debutants) as well.

“If we don’t give these guys a chance, why are they at the camps? A lot of these guys deserve this. We are not too worried that it will be a ‘new’ team. They have been part of our training sessions, and they know what the main focus point is.

“They are experienced and mature enough to understand what needs to be done. This wake-up call (in the first Test), I am glad we got it at the start of the season. There are a lot of things that needed to be fixed. But we trust the guys selected and whatever needs to be done, they will get it done.”