GQEBERHA, South Africa — Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber said on
Saturday he would welcome the rest of the coronavirus-hit Rugby Championship
being played in South Africa.
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Speaking after South Africa's 29–10 second-round win over Argentina at the
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Nienaber said
the Springboks were "ready to play anywhere".
But he said he would "love" to play the rest of his team's
fixtures at home following SA Rugby's offer to host the remainder of the
tournament.
The fixtures were thrown into disarray on Friday when New Zealand pulled out
of an away game against Australia, scheduled for Perth next Saturday,
because
of new COVID-19 restrictions.
New Zealand have also said they cannot host either Argentina or South
Africa, both of whom were due to play there twice.
"It would be good for our country," said Nienaber. "We just
came through a British and Irish Lions series.
"South Africa showed that in a pandemic they can host a tournament that
is the next biggest thing to a World Cup.
"South Africa is ready. We've got the protocols in place and we've got
everything lined up."
Other possibilities include moving the remaining nine matches to other
Australian venues or to Europe, with speculation that Cardiff, Dublin, London,
and Paris could stage double-headers.
Both Nienaber and captain Siya Kolisi said they did not know what was in
store over the coming weeks following the cancelation of their planned flight
to Australia on Sunday because of the COVID situation.
"This game was important to us and that has been our focus. We'll
probably find out later in the week. Other than that I know nothing," said
Kolisi.
Sixth Test
Nienaber said he was disappointed that the Springboks could not gain a bonus
point for scoring at least three tries more than Argentina, but pointed out
that it was effectively a sixth Test in as many weeks for his players.
"This game was massive for us," said the coach. "The players
were challenged massively by themselves during the week.
"If you take the South Africa A game against the Lions, then three Test
matches against the Lions and now two tough matches against a well-coached
Argentina side, it is seldom you play six Test matches on the trot."
He said the Springboks' game management was excellent for the first hour of
the match but admitted they had lost cohesion in the final quarter when all the
replacement players were on the field.
"We would have loved to get the bonus point, but we wanted to give guys
game time.
"Our strategic goal will always be to win games and defend the Rugby
Championship, but looking ahead to (the next World Cup in) 2023 we made changes
to get broader experience in the squad."
Although the Springboks prided themselves on their defense, Nienaber said he
did not mind conceding a try six minutes after the full-time hooter.
"I'm not disappointed," he said. "We were going full blast
for the bonus point."
South Africa had to play with 14 men from the 72nd minute because
replacement scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse was injured after they used all eight
substitutes.
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