Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber believes the team can improve after their record-breaking victory against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship Test at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
The Springboks’ 26-10 victory marked their largest margin against New Zealand since South Africa returned from international isolation in 1992, and the second largest of all time. The previous greatest win post-isolation was their 14-point victory (40-26) in Johannesburg in 2004, while the 17-0 victory in Durban in 1928 remains their largest victory of all time.
The Boks scored two tries to one — from wing Kurt-Lee Arendse in the eighth minute and replacement back Willie le Roux in the 80th — while Handre Pollard kicked two conversions, three penalty goals and a drop goal for 16 points in a flawless day with the boot.
“We spoke about it in the week and all we asked was to pitch up with intensity and try and be accurate in what we had planned, and I thought we did it well,” Nienaber said.
However, the coach believes there is more to come.
“I don’t think we’re the finished product yet,” he said.
“We did a good assessment after the Wales series. I think we have improved; I think we have built on stuff that we thought there wasn’t good growth in the Wales series. I think we are slowly really building our game, but I don’t think it is the finished product yet.”
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi said the result was only one step in a long campaign.
“It feels good tonight, but we know the Championship is not done yet,” he said.
“We have five more games to go but the next important one is next week. But to win tonight in front of a crowd like that was very special.”
Nienaber had a special word for praise for hooker Malcolm Marx, who was named Man of the Match on his 50th Test.
“I thought he was outstanding — and that’s Malcolm,” Nienaber said about Marx.
“He is the guy that exemplifies what a Springbok should be. He is a warrior, a guy who had to work hard to get where he is. He had to make the change from loose forward to hooker — so he really had to work hard to get where he is.
“I have worked with him since he was an Under-20 in 2014, and it is phenomenal to see what a guy he has become. This was a milestone game and hopefully it will prepare the road going forward for him for the next 50 Test matches.”
The Springboks face the All Blacks in their second Rugby Championship Test at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.