Hungry Springboks target redemption in Wellington clash with All Blacks

Bok fans are walking around on Sunday morning a bit dazed and crestfallen. And the team currently in New Zealand is aware of the fact.

In fact, Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith says the team is hungry and motivated to bounce back when they meet the All Blacks again in Wellington on Saturday.

Smith admitted the side was left disappointed after their 24-17 defeat at Eden Park but insisted the squad is already looking ahead to the second Rugby Championship clash.

“Personally, I’m very hungry for the next game, and hopefully I get a chance to play,” said Smith. “The whole squad is motivated for the next game. We had a lot of opportunities that we missed out on Saturday, but we know what areas we need to work on. Once we have our review, we’ll take things from there.”

Missed chances in Auckland

The Springboks battled back from 17-3 down midway through the second half and came close to levelling the score in the closing stages, but errors proved costly.

Smith said the difference was New Zealand’s ability to turn chances into points. “Obviously, it was a massive game, and we definitely wanted a different result,” he said. “It was a tough match. We didn’t use our opportunities, and they used theirs and scored a few tries, so we need to work hard for the next game.”

He also pointed out the conditions made the contest more challenging but stopped short of using them as an excuse. “The ball was slippery, and bounced around a lot,” he said. “It was also scrappy at the breakdown, and that made it difficult to attack from. So, that’s something we’ll definitely have a look at and work on this week.”

Focus on standards

Smith stressed that the team knows the level required and intends to fix mistakes before Saturday.  “We know what our standards are, and we’ll definitely try to rectify that,” he said.

The Springboks currently sit third on the Rugby Championship standings with five points, tied with Argentina. The Wallabies are second on nine points, with the All Blacks leading on 10 after two rounds.

All Blacks lose experience

While South Africa looks for a stronger start in Wellington, the All Blacks will be without one of their most experienced forwards.

Hooker Codie Taylor, a 101-Test veteran, was ruled out after failing a head injury assessment in Auckland. Assistant coach Jason Ryan confirmed Taylor will be replaced in the squad, with Samisoni Taukei'aho expected to start.

Taylor’s absence comes as a blow to the All Blacks’ pack, while wing Emoni Narawa is also highly unlikely to feature due to a rib problem suffered in Auckland.

Ryan said New Zealand must bring the same edge as in the first Test. “There was a lot riding on the first one but we've got to make sure we build that same edge this week,” he said.

The Boks and All Blacks meet again at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday, with kick-off set for 9.05am (SA time).