VIDEO: Nienaber reveals key targets for Boks in 2022

On Tuesday, it was confirmed that the Boks are scheduled to face Wales in three Test matches in the Incoming Series in July, before hosting the All Blacks and Argentina in the Rugby Championship in August and September.

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The Boks finished last year as the No 1 ranked side in World Rugby, but several results left coach Jacques Nienaber frustrated, which included a three-match losing streak in Australia during the Rugby Championship, as well as a frustrating last-minute defeat to England.

However, highlights included a memorable series win over the British & Irish Lions and a thrilling victory against the All Blacks.

In a video on SuperSport’s First XV show, Nienaber has now provided insight into the 2021 team review, and what they hope to achieve this year.

“There were some good foundations that we laid in 2021. Thinking of where we came from, not playing any rugby in 2020. For us, it was about getting back on the horse, beating the British & Irish Lions while doing that, playing in the Rugby Championship and getting used to bubble life.

“This year will be a big year in the sense of building on what we started in 2021 with the end goal of 2023 in mind.

“Our strategic goals will never change. It will still be that we want to perform and performance for a national team is winning. But with the same three legs: transforming, getting squad depth and growing the experience in the squad. Obviously we want to try and get a 10 out of 10, but we will look again at the end of this year and see where we are.”

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Nienaber also went into detail about the Boks’ selection criteria and what attributes they look for in players.

“From a rugby perspective, it’s probably how someone plays. We literally look at every single action they do during a game. Every carry, every tackle, every cleanout, every contest in the air, every scrum, every lineout, every pass and kick, every catch. We go into detail. It literally takes us a week to go through the squad we are currently looking at.

“We look at their fundamentals. We don’t mix or meddle with their styles or strategies. Other than that, does he fit into what we deem to be a good Springbok? What the public sees on a Saturday is probably only the 12th thing that we look at in terms of team selection. That’s why we have the alignment camps. When we look at the mindset of a Springbok, we want to see a warrior, we want to see a disciplined player, a player who takes ownership.

“Does that player have an ego? That we see when we visit the teams and coaches, you speak to people who work with them. Is he a player that puts in the effort during the week? Does he do it with a good enjoyment? Or is he a player who has the enjoyment but lacks the effort?

“There are a lot of things that we look at, that we pick up from visiting the franchises. Sometimes we are allowed to be in the change room while they play their URC games so we can see how they handle their half-time talks. So there are a lot of ways we use to see if a player fits our structures or not.”

You can check out the clip below, where the Boks’ coach also offers a 6/10 rating for last year:

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THE BOKS’ CONFIRMED SCHEDULE CAN BE FOUND BELOW:

Incoming Series fixtures (kick-off times TBC):
Saturday, 2 July: Springboks v Wales – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday, 9 July: Springboks v Wales – Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Saturday, 16 July: Springboks v Wales – DHL Stadium, Cape Town

Rugby Championship fixtures (kick-off times TBC):
Saturday, 6 August: Springboks v New Zealand – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Saturday, 13 August: Springboks v New Zealand – Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Saturday, 27 August: Springboks v Australia – venue TBC
Saturday, 3 September: Springboks v Australia – venue TBC
Saturday, 17 September: Springboks v Argentina – Vélez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Saturday, 24 September: Springboks v Argentina – Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban