Defence a constant work-on for Boks – Arendse
Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse said the Boks were determined to improve and build on their performance last week as they prepare to face the All Blacks in the third Test of the Castle Double...
The Springboks won the second Test by 33-26, although the All Blacks scored four tries to three, and Arendse said that the team have been working hard on their defence and that they would be up for this match mentally and physically.
**“**We know the All Blacks are good at finding the wide channels and we’ve put things in place to counter that,” said Arendse.
“In the first Test we focused too much on them instead of ourselves, but this this time our focus is more on ourselves and where we need to improve, so hopefully we will manage things better.
“We work every week on ways to get better in defence,” he said. “We fixed up a few things this week that we lacked last weekend, but it’s something we work on every week to get ourselves better and prevent teams from scoring.”
Of Cheslin Kolbe’s switch to fullback in place of Damian Willemse, who is nursing an injury, Arendse was confident that he would slot into the role seamlessly in the back three with himself and Ethan Hooker.
“It’s pretty much the same because I’ve played with Cheslin at fullback before,” said Arendse.
“It’s just a different number on his jersey. We communicate really well in training and on the field, and we’ll take that onto the park this weekend.”
This Test will mark Arendse’s first at the FNB Stadium, despite accumulating 33 caps in his career to date, and he was excited about the occasion.
“I think the atmosphere is going to be amazing,” said the former Blitzbok speedster.
“The last time I was at FNB Stadium was in 2023 for the Soweto Derby [between South African football clubs Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates], and the support that came out for that was great, so I think it will be the same this weekend. We’re really looking forward to it.”
Arendse shared his teammates sentiments that they would like to finish off their home Tests with a good performance: “It’s a really important Test and we’re going to give everything. We definitely want to finish on a high.”
The match kicks off at 17h10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Source: Original report at SA Rugby.