Springboks v All Blacks

The past weekend – apart from the Blitzboks in Canada – was a dire weekend for South African rugby. And that’s the GOOD news! Photo: SA Rugby website

THAT box kick, was it an instruction from the Springbok coaches or was it on the players? Siya Kolisi reveals all!

The Springboks suffered a narrow 19-17 loss to the All Blacks in Townsville, Australia with a contentious 78th minute box kick a hot topic captain Siya Kolisi has delved into.

Springboks v All Blacks

The past weekend – apart from the Blitzboks in Canada – was a dire weekend for South African rugby. And that’s the GOOD news! Photo: SA Rugby website

The Springboks suffered a narrow 19-17 loss to the All Blacks in Townsville, Australia with a contentious 78th minute box kick a hot topic captain Siya Kolisi has delved into.

The Springboks were near the All Blacks 22 metre line when Herschel Jantjies opted to kick the ball, and Kolisi has now revealed who’s decision that was. 

Springboks employed a kick-heavy game plan

It had been the order of the day for the Springboks, who deployed and again reverted to relying heavily on their kicking game plan as a means to try and put the All Blacks under pressure under the high ball. It was a game plan that seemed to work a treat for the Kolisi-led side as their try on the day came from winger Sbu Nkosi capitalising on a kick the All Blacks couldn’t control. 

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However, Springbok supporters would soon be irked and voice their disapproval of what seemed like excessive kicking from half back pairing Fat de Klerk and Handre Pollard. Almost every time the Boks came close to the All Blacks’ 22m line, either de Klerk or Pollard would either launch a box kick or try to find the touchline. Jantjies entered the field and did the same thing and him doing so while the team was behind with two minutes to go incensed supporters on social media. Kolisi has since come to his defence by explaining why he did so.

Kolisi explains who’s decision it was

“We (the Springboks) were on the field in the 77th minute, and the message from the players, not from upstairs, was to stick to the game plan. That’s how we know how to play, and it’s always worked for us,” Kolisi said. 

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“We were never going to change anything, because that’s how we won the balls back.”It’s been working the whole day, so why change it at the end?” Continued Kolisi. 

The Springboks will now have another crack at the All Blacks on Saturday kick off 12:05 South African time