springboks.rugby
Springbok coach, Jacque Nienaber, attributed his team’s hard-fought 19–16 win over the British and Irish Lions in Cape Town on Saturday night, to their motto of “not looking for excuses, but finding solutions.”
He said despite the early setbacks to their campaign, they were determined to find the solutions to whatever they encountered on what proved to be a series-winning campaign, the first for the Bok coach since he was appointed in 2020.
“Our attitude was ‘let's move on and find the solutions,” Nienaber said in a post-match statement.
“There was so much experience in the squad, so we could manage to get the work done in the end. Our biggest challenge was getting time to prepare – we had some COVID issues and had to sit in hotel rooms for a week. We lost a week, but there was never going to be time for excuses. We made it work.”
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi elaborated on the team’s motto: “I cannot explain in words – this group had so many challenges, with our first proper training just before the first Test.
“We decided though that there will be no excuses – people would not accept that anyway. We knew if we step onto the field, we needed to be ready to play,” added Kolisi.
The Bok captain also applauded Cheslin Kolbe, who scored another dazzling try, and the backline players on their efforts:
“Cheslin does not use many opportunities – today he just needed one. Willie (le Roux) was another – the backs came through when we needed them.”
Meanwhile, Nienaber spoke of the anxious moment when substitute flyhalf, Morne’ Steyn, lined up for the late deciding penalty when the teams were level at 16 each.
“I had my head down between my legs when he kicked that last penalty goal, to be honest – I just could not watch,” he admitted.
Looking ahead, Kolisi said the Boks will be ready next week for Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the Rugby Championship.
“The character of the team - the guys who could not play kept on supporting – that attitude came through. We have a good work ethic. We find solutions and will be ready for next week.”
