Kevin Foote believes the Springboks’ defeat to the Wallabies in Perth should not be viewed as a warning sign over their depth going into the World Cup.
Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes to his starting XV for last Sunday’s one-off Test at Optus Stadium, with a number of players given an opportunity to stake their claim.
The Boks ultimately went down in Australia, prompting questions over whether the result exposed a lack of depth in certain positions. Foote, however, believes Erasmus has plenty of quality at his disposal.
“Our depth now is incredible,” Foote said on the Boks Unpacked X The Verdict podcast.
“You know so we didn’t get the win but it’s not something that I think the coaches will worry about.”
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Foote pointed to the circumstances surrounding several of the players who featured in Perth, highlighting the limited opportunities they have had to build combinations.
The Springboks have had a demanding international season so far, with travel to Argentina and the United States included in their itinerary, before another demanding trip Down Under.
“They’ve got to fly to Australia, stay in Terrigal, move to Perth. It’s a long time on the road,” Foote said.
He says the lack of continuity among some of the players is therefore more significant than their individual quality.
He believes the next step is simply giving them more time together.
“For all those players, you know, they’ve had to be selfless,” he said. “Not get selected, not get selected, then they get the opportunity.
“It didn’t go their way, but they’re all very good players. Just building those combinations I think will be the most important thing.”
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And while the Perth result was a setback, Foote believes it could ultimately provide the Boks with extra motivation going into the World Cup exactly one year away.
“We (the Springboks) will be hungry from this and the guys will remember this,” he said.
Photo: James Worsfold/Getty Images
The post Junior Boks boss backs Boks depth appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Kevin Foote believes the Springboks’ defeat to the Wallabies in Perth should not be viewed as a warning sign over their depth going into the World Cup.
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