Coach Dave Rennie praises All Blacks’ character in fighting win over Stormers
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Stormers’ wing Leolin Zas and New Zealand’s fly-half Beauden Barrett leaping for the ball during a rugby union tour match at the Cape Town Stadium on Aug 7.
PHOTO: AFP
CAPE TOWN – Coach Dave Rennie praised the character of his side as New Zealand pulled away in the closing stages to defeat South Africa’s Stormers 38-21 in Cape Town on Aug 7, but has a concern over a shoulder injury to centre Billy Proctor.
The All Blacks made a winning start to their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, which will see them face four South African franchise teams before playing four Tests against the Springboks from Aug 22, the first time they have toured their great rivals in 30 years.
But they were given a scare by a depleted Stormers side. The South African team held the visitors at 14-14 in the 65th minute before running out of gas in the closing stages, as wing Rieko Ioane scored an opportunistic try in the 68th minute, followed in quick succession by tries by fellow wing Leroy Carter, full-back Josh Moorby and replacement prop Asafo Aumua.
“It was a good introduction for us to South African rugby,” Rennie told reporters. “We started very well, and it looked like which side had the ball got rewarded by the referee. When we had the ball, we were really dangerous. We knew they would bring line speed (in defence). We just weren’t quite clinical enough to expose them.
“They came at us with their set pieces, and we need to be better in those areas. We expected a lot of aerial attacks and we probably did not handle that as well as we could have.”
Rennie confirmed an injury problem for Proctor, who looked uncomfortable as he left the field.
“It looks like a shoulder injury. There are some other guys with bumps and bruises too. We will have to see.”
Rennie said the character of his side shone in the closing stages and was a major factor in their victory.
“Just a heap of character. We are very well conditioned. I felt if we could hold on to the ball, we would hurt them,” he said.
“Both sides were pretty competitive post-tackle. We will have sides who try to slow our ball down. We carried and cleaned well (at the ruck). What we knew was we had to be accurate. If we could do that, we would find space.
“We have got some tough footie into them (the players) tonight and they will be better for that. Tours like this will test our depth... heading into a World Cup next year, and we will know better what we have.” REUTERS, AFP
