­
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER

SA Rugby magazine

South African rugby news, interviews, videos and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER
You are here: Home ∼ Boks defiant over criticism

Boks defiant over criticism

Published on September 27, 2016 | Leave a response

Assistant coach Matt Proudfoot says the only criticism that the Springboks will pay attention to is their own, writes CRAIG LEWIS in Johannesburg.

The Boks have ensconced themselves at their Montecasino team hotel after returning from an overseas leg in the Rugby Championship that saw them suffer three successive defeats.

This week, there has been a very real sense that the Boks have looked to close themselves off to the public and press criticism that has followed their recent performances, and left them just one log point ahead of the bottom-placed Pumas.

On Tuesday, a defiant Proudfoot fronted up to the media and insisted that the pressure and criticism would not affect a team that holds itself to their own standards.

‘Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and we can’t afford to worry about that. Ultimately, from a personal point of view, if I’m positively contributing to the team and the players, then I’m doing my job. And it’s similar for the players in terms of how they make a contribution and handle any criticism. We measure ourselves on our own criticism, and that’s the only thing that should affect our performances. How we look at ourselves and handle ourselves is what needs to be transferred to the team.’

In recent weeks, inexperienced backline coach Mzwandile Stick and new defence coach Chean Roux have particularly come under fire from various quarters.

When asked specifically whether he thought such criticism had strayed offsides, Proudfoot emphasised that the coaching staff operated on a system of honest introspection that ensured they held each other accountable.

‘We as a coaching staff look at ourselves harshly; when we have a coaching meeting, we close the door and honesty prevails. If [attack and lineout coach] Johann [van Graan] feels I’ve overstepped or done something wrong, then he can share that. Ultimately, I can only speak on my behalf, and how I would respond if that’s where criticism comes from.

‘At the end of the day, people are passionate about rugby in this country, and it’s good that we feel that responsibility. And if we didn’t, what would that say about how much we care about the Bok brand? How we manage it [criticism] and handle ourselves are up to us. We set the benchmark in terms of how the team responds, and how we improve.’

This week, the media has had very limited access to the Springboks’ training sessions as they’ve seemingly looked to come together as a team behind closed doors. It now remains to be seen whether a prevailing sense of defiance translates into a passionate response in this Saturday’s Test against the Wallabies at Loftus.

It’s a happy hunting ground for the Springboks, but the Wallabies have jetted into South Africa on the back of morale-boosting wins over the Boks and Pumas.

Considering that the All Blacks will be overwhelming favourites to emerge victorious in Durban next weekend, this Saturday’s Test has quickly become a must-win clash if the Boks hope to avoid the ignominy of potentially ending the tournament with just a solitary victory.

However, Proudfoot reiterated that the team was not concerned about past records or log standings, but rather about upping their standard of performance.

‘We had a few days off [after returning from New Zealand], and it provided an appreciation for how special this environment is. At the beginning of this week when we got together again, Allister [Coetzee] laid out the goals for this week, and in the first couple of days of training we’ve seen how the team has responded.

‘The players are pushing themselves to a new level of excellence and contribution. Everyone here is really motivated for another big challenge against the Aussies. We’re back home and going to be at a venue where we can perform a lot more comfortably. We have to take responsibility for a good performance this Saturday.’

Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

Posted in Rugby Championship, Springboks

Post by Craig Lewis

Craig Lewis

Check out Blackout Rugby Manager HERE!

← Previous Next →

Sevens’ party falls flat

World Rugby shouldn’t have messed with a winning sevens formula, writes SIMON...

Draining format clogs Blitzboks’ blockage

A protracted schedule took the wind out of South Africa's sails at...

England cut Eddie, Razor to stop the bleeding

England have made the rash decision to part ways with coach Eddie...

Rassie ref hom in die rooi

Rassie Erasmus is hardly the embarrassment that some are making him out...

Cut and paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Kurt-Lee Arendse ticks all the right boxes to replace the injured Cheslin...

Rassie auditions for England job

Rassie Erasmus has made the most calculated of public job applications to...

Boks need to make mentality adjustment

The Springboks need to lose their underdog mentality, writes SIMNIKIWE XABANISA in...

Kolbe’s worth every penny

Cheslin Kolbe’s big-money move to Toulon should be welcomed as a massive...

‘Bok gameplan, when executed correctly, is hard to match’

The opportunity to play against the All Blacks is a career highlight...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Bonus-point Bulls douse Dragons
  • Munster maul luckless Lions
  • Stormers sign off 2022 in style
  • Sharks carve Bulls on New Year’s Eve

Jacques Burger’s Perfect XV

    BKT United Rugby Championship, Scotstoun, Glasgow, Scotland 8/1/2023 Glasgow Warriors vs DHL Stormers Stormers' Damian Willemse Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Craig Watson
  • Highlights: Heartbreak for Stormers in Glasgow thriller

###


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

African Insider
African Insider News

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup
    • Challenge Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER