Written by Jean Smyth a day ago on http://ewn.co.za/
LONDON – Springbok assistant coach John McFarland says despite Heyneke Meyer’s emotional response on the weekend to not paying much attention to this Friday’s third place play-off at the Rugby World Cup, the squad is motivated to beat Argentina and win well.
The team for the clash will be announced at 7pm tonight, with the squad having being a number of days off following their 20-18 loss to the All Blacks in Saturday's semifinal.
The squad reassembled yesterday at the team hotel in Guildford following that loss as they prepare for Friday night’s Bronze Final against Argentina.
McFarland says that despite losing to Argentina in Durban this year, they take heart from the last time they met.
“It’s an important game for both teams. For us if we finished the year we move up to where we want to be, finish third in the ranking. If they beat us they finish third, so it’s an important game.”
McFarland says that he’s looking forward to Friday's clash.
“There’s a need for the players to be focused and there’s a need for the players to come and treat it like a normal test game. If you turn out against Argentina with wrong attitude they will punish, and for us it’s the last test of the year, I’m looking forward to it on Friday night.”
While flank Willem Alberts, who’s mainly played as a substitute this tournament, says that he’s excited for the game.
“It’s always important to finish strong, but I do think if we're looking at our last game, it wasn’t that we didn’t play that bad. It was quite a spectacle and we can take good things out of that game and continue into the next one, we’ll be ready for another great rugby match.”
MCFARLAND DISSECTS ALL BLACKS LOSS
While the general sentiment is that the Springboks were well-beaten by the All Blacks, McFarland has lamented the small margins between victory and defeat.
Tactically, the All Blacks were far superior in the game, but a Dan Carter drop-goal had a decisive impact, which on review could perhaps have seen New Zealand called back for a knock-on by Richie McCaw, as McFarland alludes to.
“The key turning point for me was maybe the drop-goal of Carter with 14 because that gave them hope, I’m not so sure of that line-out, how the ball came so quickly back into his hands.”
McFarland also suggested that they were outfoxed by the All Blacks who didn’t allow the Springboks to build-up a head of steam by simply infringing to break their momentum.
“We actually had six set pieces in their half, two scrums four line-out. The two scrums, we scrummed them backwards and they gave away penalties and the yellow card actually through. The two lineouts they gave penalties as well, so four out of six set pieces gave us points. We couldn’t build any pressure.”
McFarland says the All Blacks shrewd tactics worked a charm.
“And also within grey area around the halfway line we lost balls, so we never really into their half at all but when we did they gave us penalties, they gave us 12 points. They can only play what they give you.”
McFarland says that despite the result they did everyone proud.
“I thought players did us proud, I really did. They gave everything; they worked so hard in attacking and defending. You only have to see the disappointment on the faces at the end of the game on Saturday night. But they really gave everything.”
Jade Christopher Bentley Adams signing off
(@jcba & IG @jcba_official)
LONDON – Springbok assistant coach John McFarland says despite Heyneke Meyer’s emotional response on the weekend to not paying much attention to this Friday’s third place play-off at the Rugby World Cup, the squad is motivated to beat Argentina and win well.
The team for the clash will be announced at 7pm tonight, with the squad having being a number of days off following their 20-18 loss to the All Blacks in Saturday's semifinal.
The squad reassembled yesterday at the team hotel in Guildford following that loss as they prepare for Friday night’s Bronze Final against Argentina.
McFarland says that despite losing to Argentina in Durban this year, they take heart from the last time they met.
“It’s an important game for both teams. For us if we finished the year we move up to where we want to be, finish third in the ranking. If they beat us they finish third, so it’s an important game.”
McFarland says that he’s looking forward to Friday's clash.
“There’s a need for the players to be focused and there’s a need for the players to come and treat it like a normal test game. If you turn out against Argentina with wrong attitude they will punish, and for us it’s the last test of the year, I’m looking forward to it on Friday night.”
While flank Willem Alberts, who’s mainly played as a substitute this tournament, says that he’s excited for the game.
“It’s always important to finish strong, but I do think if we're looking at our last game, it wasn’t that we didn’t play that bad. It was quite a spectacle and we can take good things out of that game and continue into the next one, we’ll be ready for another great rugby match.”
While the general sentiment is that the Springboks were well-beaten by the All Blacks, McFarland has lamented the small margins between victory and defeat.
Tactically, the All Blacks were far superior in the game, but a Dan Carter drop-goal had a decisive impact, which on review could perhaps have seen New Zealand called back for a knock-on by Richie McCaw, as McFarland alludes to.
“The key turning point for me was maybe the drop-goal of Carter with 14 because that gave them hope, I’m not so sure of that line-out, how the ball came so quickly back into his hands.”
McFarland also suggested that they were outfoxed by the All Blacks who didn’t allow the Springboks to build-up a head of steam by simply infringing to break their momentum.
“We actually had six set pieces in their half, two scrums four line-out. The two scrums, we scrummed them backwards and they gave away penalties and the yellow card actually through. The two lineouts they gave penalties as well, so four out of six set pieces gave us points. We couldn’t build any pressure.”
McFarland says the All Blacks shrewd tactics worked a charm.
“And also within grey area around the halfway line we lost balls, so we never really into their half at all but when we did they gave us penalties, they gave us 12 points. They can only play what they give you.”
McFarland says that despite the result they did everyone proud.
“I thought players did us proud, I really did. They gave everything; they worked so hard in attacking and defending. You only have to see the disappointment on the faces at the end of the game on Saturday night. But they really gave everything.”
Jade Christopher Bentley Adams signing off
(@jcba & IG @jcba_official)
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