Boks driven to end 2021 as world’s top-ranked team — Davids
Having beaten Wales and Scotland, the South Africans need to beat England to finish the year as the number one team.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, lock Eben Etzebeth and rookie lock Salmaan Moerat look on at a training session ahead of the Test against England on Saturday. Picture: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
Finishing the year as the top ranked team in world rugby is a massive motivation for the Springboks and they will be able to make sure of that with a win over England in their final end-of-year-tour match at Twickenham on Saturday.
The Boks and the All Blacks have been rotating between numbers one and two on the rankings the past few weeks, but with the All Blacks losing to Ireland and the Boks winning against Scotland, it leaves the South African team in pole position to end the season on top.
“Every Test match that we play is important to us. Taking the number one in the world ranking into next year is something that really drives the players,” admitted Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids.
“I think we go out with the mentality in every Test match to represent the country to the best of our ability and we will approach this game exactly the same.
“We have come through a very tough year with all the Covid challenges and I think this week is part of those challenges that we will have to overcome and adapt to. But, playing a Test match against any country is important for us, so I think the players are very motivated.”
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The Boks will be confident as they head into the England match having won three games on the trot, with a powerful showing against Scotland this past weekend giving the team some good momentum to head into the last game of the year.
The team will also look to stick with what has worked for them so far and keep the same game plan in place.
“If we look back at our games against Scotland and Wales we put big emphasis on the systems and processes in the different departments of our game,” said Davids.
“We know that England is going to be a tough challenge; they bring unique challenges in different aspects of the game. So for us we are entirely focused on how we need to prepare for that and where we need to improve going forward.
“We are confident with the players and experience that we have in the team and the improvements that we have made over the past few Test matches that we can take that momentum into this weekend.”
