News

Deans ready for wounded Boks

August 18 2008

After South Africa slumped to a disappointing 19-0 defeat on Saturday Australia, who are up next for the world champions, are expecting something of a backlash in Durban.

Saturday's Test in Durban is the first of two consecutive Tests for Australia on South African soil, and there is no doubt the Springboks will not perform as badly as they did against New Zealand again.

Just as New Zealand hit back from defeat to trounce Australia in Auckland three weeks ago, Australia will be wary of a South African side smarting from the embarrassment of being nilled at home.

"Without a doubt, the Springboks won't want to suffer again at home," Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, who attended the match at Newlands on Saturday, told Fox Sports.

For South Africa to win the Tri-Nations now they will need something of a miracle - two bonus point wins against Australia followed by a Wallaby win over the All Blacks should do it - whilst Australia are very much in the hunt still.

"It's hard for the Springboks now to win the tournament, but hence their likely response as a result of Saturday," Deans said.

"They are world champions and there is no way they will be excited about contemplating another loss. You can't hide. It will be a great opportunity coming at the end of the week. It will only be what we make of it."

The game had been locked at 5-0 for almost an hour, before two late tries gave the score a rather one-sided look. And whilst New Zealand deserved their victory the winning margin fails to show just how close the game was for long periods.

"It was a tough encounter, obviously," Deans said.

"It was great to be there. It was great to be able to witness it live. The score appears to be one-sided, but the contest itself was very much anything but that.

"And the first half was probably the biggest indicator of that. There was an awful amount of rugby played in that first half, but there was very little to show for it. It was 5-0 on the scoreboard at half-time.

"The All Blacks got home and they played well. They absorbed the pressure and there was a significant amount of pressure from the Boks.

"They absorbed that and took the points, not always by the boot, but they were able to score three tries and that was the difference."

South Africa twice had golden chances in the first half only to see Adrian Jacobs butcher both by sheer greed, as well as outstanding cover defence from New Zealand.

"There were times they survived on defence when there was probably no other side in the world that would have because the Boks did bring a lot of pressure to bear and it looked on occasions like scoring was inevitable, but they hung in there and they defended very well," Deans said.

"Both sides had a huge intensity. It was only late in the game when the game got away from the Springboks that they were forced to play a game that they weren't really that comfortable with and it cost them.

"Being an observer in the arena, it was very evident that any side that enters a Tri-Nations fixture that is not at full noise is just going to get belted."