Focused Boks will not be derailed by Aussie ‘sledging’

THE Springboks have admitted that they have not always had the best of mindsets when they have toured Australia, but that will not be the case when they play the Wallabies on Saturday (6.30am SA time start) before a sell-out crowd in Brisbane.

Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach conceded that the Boks have been guilty in the past of having one eye on an impending game against the All Blacks, or that they were mentally drained from playing in New Zealand the week before.

The Boks’ failure to “switch on” in Australia was best illustrated when a disinterested team lost 49-0 in Brisbane in 2006, only to win the World Cup a year later.

The Boks’ last win at Suncorp Stadium was in 2013, and this remains their only victory in Brisbane in 12 attempts.

Reinach said on Wednesday that the Boks have learned from the past and are determined to boot the Brisbane bogey into touch in the Rugby Championship opener.

A decade ago, Cobus Reinach made his #Springboks debut against the Wallabies, and he had some words of advice for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu - more here: https://t.co/5pESiTWq6y 👊#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/iMs4xHbWNT

— Springboks (@Springboks) August 7, 2024

“Sometimes in the past, we would look past Australia because we had a New Zealand game in the picture,” the No.9 said.

“We didn’t prepare as well, because we knew that there were tougher games to come. We are not doing that anymore. We are focused only on what’s in front of us each week.

“We don’t care about next weekend or anything after that. We are just focused on the now and here, what we need to do to get the win.

“We want to put a performance out there that is worthy of our people.”

A classic example of the Boks being switched on and off against the Wallabies was in 2022. In the first game in Adelaide, the Boks were poor and lost 25-17.

They were heavily criticised, and the following week, a sharply focused team convincingly beat the Wallabies 24-8 in Sydney.

Bok fans will recall the matches for the Australians’ attempts to get under the skin of the Boks, notably through scrumhalf Nic White.

Reinach said that the Boks are ready for more of the same, but will better deal with it.

“Nic White is a great player and a good guy off the field, but during the game he tries to get in your head,” Reinach smiled.

“The Aussies enjoy the sledging and the pushing and shoving off the ball, but we have spoken about it. We need to stay calm and do our job.

“It won’t just be Nic – they have a plan of trying to disrupt teams, but we must stay in control.”

Ten years ago at Newlands, Reinach made his debut against Australia, and he has been dealing with their nonsense right up his last game against them, last year’s 43-12 thumping of then-coach Eddie Jones’ team.

“I made my debut against them in Cape Town. I was young back then, but I still feel young, although it is my job now to share experience,” he said, alluding to his role of guiding his halfback partner Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who starts a Test for the first time.

“Sacha will be fine, he has a good rugby head on him,” Reinach said.

“I haven’t played alongside him as a scrumhalf-flyhalf combination, but the whole week he has shown that he is hugely talented.

“I’m excited for him to go out there. He’s got the backing of the rest of the 23 and the whole squad to express himself and enjoy the moment.

“I think he is going to do well. He has a lot of X-factor in him. He will pull a few strings and create some opportunities.”

Montpellier scrumhalf Reinach will be closely involved with another youngster on Saturday in No.8 Elrigh Louw.

“Elrigh and I have just had a coffee and chatted about the game,” the 34-year-old said.

“We are all good mates and one big family at the Boks. The way we train and look after each other, the combinations gel quickly – sometimes in a week, or even a day.

“Elrigh is good to go. I told him to get his head down and scrum every opportunity we get. That is his main job, so Ox (Nche) can have his cake!” Reinach laughed, prodding the burly prop sitting next to him in the media conference.