Jacques Nienaber says the Rugby Championship teams “are all in the same boat” and the Springboks have closed themselves off from the external criticism after two successive losses. DYLAN JACK reports.

Nienaber has come in for criticism after the Springboks faltered to back-to-back defeats in the Rugby Championship by New Zealand in Johannesburg and Australia in Adelaide.

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As well as having his team selections questioned, Nienaber has been criticised for his substitution policy and some of the tactics employed by the Springboks in their Tests this year.

However, after naming a heavily changed side for Saturday’s rematch with the Wallabies, Nienaber was defiant over the criticism coming from outside the Bok camp.

“The only pressure myself and the team feels is the pressure we put on ourselves. That comes from the losses,” said Nienaber. “We all feel pressure, because we want to produce for our country and represent the country.

“The real pressure is trying to get solutions for the next game. No coach can control the pressure that comes from outside. That just comes with the territory. We live and we die by that pressure.

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“If you start focusing on external pressure, then you are focused on the wrong things. We are only focused on our own internal pressure, the things we want to achieve.

“If you ask me if there is pressure, then yes, there is. But that’s the pressure we place on each other, as a squad. That’s the pressure we can control and do something about.

“The external pressure will always be there,” added Nienaber. “This week it will be on us. It’s on all coaches. If you lose two games, there will be pressure on you.

“The key thing for us as coaches is to focus on what we can control.”

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The Springboks go into the fourth round of the tournament at the bottom of the Rugby Championship table and will play Argentina away and at home in the final two games of the competition.

“It’s a must-win for all the teams,” said Nienaber. “We are halfway through the Rugby Championship and currently it’s very tight. We are all close to one another. Whichever team wants to win the Rugby Championship, needs to win their last three games.

“We are all in the same boat.”

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