adminPretoria — Having learnt the lesson that bonus points lost are bonus points squandered, the Springboks will head into this year’s Rugby Championship knowing that every single point counts if they want to win their first title under coach Heyneke Meyer.
Last season’s Rugby Championship not only showed the difference in the way the Springboks had altered their game, upped their attacking play and had become a real force for the World Champion All Blacks to deal with, it also showed just how lopsided the Rugby Championship is.
After all, South Africa’s travel problems are unique — they are the only side to have to face three weeks away from home in the competition in a row — and then return to two home games against Australia and New Zealand to settle the title.
Still, while it might be a tougher road to travel, the rewards are greater in that getting it right will put them on course for a good Rugby World Cup next year and give the rest of the rugby world something to think about.
Yet, to do that they need to hit the ground running.
Virtually every member of the Boks fronting up to the media this week has made a case that the four points on offer against Los Pumas at Loftus Versfeld this weekend count the same as four points in Wellington or Perth.
And they’re right. The difference is that the Boks need bonus points, something that cost them last year when they weren’t able to get one in Mendoza and more crucially in Cape Town against Australia after scoring three first half tries. — Sport 24
Online Reporter