French overpowered by resurgent Springboks

South Africa’s revival in 2017 has been built on their intensity in defence and vigour at the breakdown, which was on display again in the dominant 35-12 victory over France at Ellis Park on Saturday that saw them sweep the home series 3-0.

French overpowered by resurgent Springboks

The Springboks scored four tries to none and overcame the late withdrawal of captain Warren Whiteley to overpower their opponents and take the series with an aggregate of 109 points over the three tests.

The past three weeks have been chalk and cheese with last year, when the Boks lost eight of their 12 tests, including historic defeats to Ireland, Italy and Argentina, for the worst rugby season in the country’s history.

The calls from the public for Coetzee’s sacking were at times deafening, but the improvement in the side, specifically at the breakdown and on defence in particular, has been striking.

“It was great to see how we have turned things around. We’ve learned a lot since last year. There’s a lot of belief in the side now,” Coetzee told reporters.

“We needed to turn this around, we still have a lot to do, but the belief is back in the jersey again. That is a great feeling. A lot of small things combine to make the product better.”

The addition of World Cup winner Brendon Venter to the technical team as defence coach has paid dividends, with the side conceding just four tries in three tests, a huge improvement on their porous form of 2016.

“He will stay on as a consultant,” Coetzee confirmed. “The defence is not perfect yet. There were a few missed tackles. That said, you can’t coach players to get back on their feet and chase with intensity.”

Heading into the Rugby Championship, where they face world champions New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, starting with a home match against the Pumas on Aug. 19, Coetzee knows that tougher challenges lie ahead.

“We have great rugby players and now that we have a shared value system, we are showing that. The motivation comes from within. We cannot stay undefeated forever, but one thing we can promise is an all-out effort,” he said.

Guy Noves will stay on as France coach despite the team’s 3-0 whitewash, the French Rugby Federation said.

Saturday’s loss at Ellis Park was the 11th defeat in 18 games for Noves in charge of the French side, who play world champions New Zealand on Nov. 11 in Paris.

“Guy Noves has my support but I cannot accept that we are now ranked as the eighth best rugby nation in the world,” French rugby president Bernard Laporte told Le Parisien. “Our objective must now be clear, to win three of our four tests in November,” he said.

France also host South Africa (Nov. 18) and Japan (Nov. 25 ), while a second clash in November with the All Blacks is being arranged but not yet made official.

Noves insisted there had been progress made on the three-week trip to South Africa, where France were also beaten in tests in Pretoria (37-14) and Durban (37-15).

“There was clear progress between the first two matches and in the third we were only seven down at half-time but then they scored a try that was too easy and it killed all our strategy,” the coach said after Saturday’s loss.

“You learn that this level that the slightest mistake is expensive. What is certain is that at halftime, we are still in the game. We are at the end of our season and there was a difference in the physical condition and freshness.

“We will leave with the suitcases full of points we need to work on, but it is obvious the players need a holiday. But we will look at the positive elements and I don’t think the gap is too big. I think that in November, with the work we did here in South Africa, that we will progress a little bit.”

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