Springboks warned they must improve finishing to avoid another All Blacks defeat

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has warned South Africa that missed opportunities could again prove costly when they face New Zealand in the second Test of the Greatest Rivalry series in Cape Town on Saturday.

The Springboks controlled large periods of the opening Test but scored only one try. They entered the All Blacks’ 22-metre area 11 times, yet those visits produced an average of just 0.9 points.

That return was significantly lower than South Africa’s recent level, and Erasmus says his side must be more accurate and disciplined when chances arise in the second Test.

“There were a handful of positives and negatives last week, but the main thing that let us down was that we created so many chances, but mistakes at crucial times cost us,” said Erasmus.

South Africa’s inability to convert pressure into points ultimately left the door open for New Zealand in the first Test at Ellis Park. Erasmus believes the outcome might have been very different had the Springboks taken better advantage of the opportunities they created.

“We’ll put in a lot of work this week to ensure that we are sharp in that regard this weekend because if we had used even some of those chances, the result could have been completely different.

The coach’s comments underline the main area of focus for South Africa during the build-up to Saturday’s rematch. The Springboks will need to make their territorial pressure count, while avoiding the errors that disrupted promising attacking positions in the opening encounter.

New Zealand will arrive with confidence after their victory at Ellis Park and will be seeking to build on that result. Erasmus expects another demanding contest but believes South Africa must concentrate on delivering a more complete performance rather than becoming distracted by the All Blacks’ momentum.

“We know New Zealand will be charged up after winning last week, and they will want to build on that. But the key for us will be to focus on our game and ensure that we are as effective as possible all around,” Erasmus noted.

The second Test will therefore bring another examination of South Africa’s attacking efficiency. The Springboks showed in the first match that they could create sustained pressure, but their failure to turn possession and territory into points allowed New Zealand to stay in contention and secure the win.

Erasmus is now demanding greater sharpness in the decisive moments. South Africa’s prospects of earning the desired result may depend on whether they can finish the opportunities that come their way, rather than repeating the mistakes that undermined their dominance in the first Test.

Kick-off at Cape Town on Saturday is at 17:10.