- Springbok manager Jacques Nienaber admitted England’s test was severe despite their comfortable 27-13 win at Twickenham on Saturday.
- The Boks registered their first time on the pitch since 2014 and did so despite playing the last 20 minutes a man short.
- Nienaber was happy with the way they have been building depth throughout the tour.
In London
Springbok manager Jacques Nienaber admitted they needed to get their rugby affairs in order to overcome a tough challenge from England at Twickenham on Saturday.
They did so by way of a resounding 27-13 victory, a success that snapped a six-year losing streak at Twickenham and gave the Boks a satisfying end to a tour that promised a lot at the start but only delivered at the end. .
What will be remembered is that the Boks recorded a 27th win against England in 45 Tests and they did it comprehensively.
Nienaber admitted to being tense and concerned about how England rallied from 25-6 to a draw against the All Blacks last week.
MATCH REPORT | 14-man Boks crush Twickenham bogey with convincing victory in England
However, the Boks, with calculated and shrewd defensive resistance, despite conceding a late try from Henry Slade, ensured that lightning didn’t strike twice despite Thomas du Toit being sent off on the hour mark. .
“It was a severe challenge and we needed to get it right that day,” Nienaber said.
“I don’t even know what the score was, but it was a blast for me until the end. We all saw what England are capable of last week.”
“They came back well last week and from a coaching staff perspective, we knew they had the ability in them.
“You never feel comfortable and we actually pushed really hard for territory and another touchdown because we felt it was too close.”
The Test match took place outside the international window, meaning the Boks were robbed of their European-based players.
This was something Nienaber was prepared for, and to some extent, happy about, as it presented an opportunity for depth testing in a high-pressure environment.
Boks workhorses such as Franco Mostert and Eben Etzebeth (who scored), delivered first-rate performances.
There were also more than adequate displays from Marvin Orie while there is depth in Salmaan Moerat as the likes of RG Snyman and Lood de Jager recover from injuries.
ABSTRACT | Mighty Springboks tear England apart to silence Twickenham faithful
“There are guys that are knocking on the door, but I think Franco, Eben and Marvin were outstanding today,” Nienaber said.
“We still have guys like RG, Salmaan and Lood, who weren’t available, so we have some good competition and it’s nice to give the guys a chance in a big game like this.
“It was always good to see how the guys handled the pressure in a hostile environment.”
