Cheslin Kolbe warns the All Blacks will have a score to settle on Saturday, so the Springboks must double down to make it back-to-back Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry wins, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.
“When you lose, the team is always going to come back with a point to prove,” said Kolbe, who helped level the series with an 18-point haul from the kicking tee in last Saturday’s 33-26 win in Cape Town Stadium after the Ellis Park defeat.
Attention shifts to the third Test at FNB Stadium, the two-time World Cup winner adding: “We need to go back on Monday and see where we didn’t capitalise on opportunities.
“New Zealand are a quality team; they attack well and they cut us open a few times. We definitely need to look at where we can improve and get better as a team.”
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Kolbe touched on the vibe from Bok fans following South Africa’s series-opening disappointment, and ahead of the team’s return to the Highveld for another rematch.
“We could feel the atmosphere, not negativity but less energy, throughout the week because of the loss last week,” he said.
“As they always say, when we lose, it’s ‘n Blou Maandag [a Blue Monday]. We felt that, but we just wanted to rectify it.
“It wasn’t easy at all; we needed to stay in the fight. It’s going to be like that for the next two matches.”
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On his goal-kicking form, the Stormers-bound Kolbe credited his last club season in Japan and Bok assistant coach Tony Brown for sharpening his skills in front of the uprights.
“This season in Japan, I had the responsibility of taking over the goal-kicking and that’s contributed to my style and technique.
“I can also give credit to the coaches in Japan, and Tony in the Springbok set-up is doing a few things for me so I can get more consistency.
“That’s the same for every rugby player; you always need to bring something new to the team … it’s contributing to the team’s success,” he added.
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Asked for an honest radar of how far he can kick for goal, the diminutive Kolbe joked: “I think most of the balls tonight were just over the crossbar!”
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
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Cheslin Kolbe warns the All Blacks will have a score to settle on Saturday, so the Springboks must double down to make it back-to-back Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry wins.
The post Kolbe keen on another ‘Blou Maandag’ for Kiwis appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
