The Springboks are preparing for a challenging Test against Japan at Wembley, with assistant coach Jerry Flannery emphasising control and composure.
Speaking at a media session on Tuesday, he praised Japan’s performance against Australia and warned against underestimating them.
“Looking at the game, they showed an awful lot of resilience,” Jerry said. “Even with yellow cards, they defended superbly against one of the best sides.”
Australia had scored six tries against South Africa earlier in the Rugby Championship, and Jerry highlighted Japan’s improvement. “They can defend very well and attack sharply,” he noted. “In the last quarter, they really came into the game and were probably disappointed not to win.”
Japan coach Eddie Jones has already raised the stakes, promising a spectacle at Wembley. “Eddie’s hyping it up,” Jerry admitted. “He’s building his team up all week and looking forward to writing history by beating the Springboks at Wembley.”
SOUTH AFRICA WARY OF DANGEROUS JAPAN SIDE
Jerry insisted his side are fully aware of Japan’s mindset and are matching that intensity in preparation. “We’re trying to make sure that we’re as prepared as we can be,” he said. “We know they’ll come hard.”
Reflecting on the Rugby Championship, Jerry said the Springboks had taken valuable lessons from the high-scoring contests. “It was a brilliant spectacle,” he said. “But the way the game is going, you need to control the tempo and not let it turn into a circus.”
He explained that managing momentum and adapting defensively would be crucial. “Our defence needs to adapt to the flow,” Jerry said. “We must exert more control and, at times, pull the brakes and transfer pressure onto the opposition.”
He believes that composure grew within the team during the Championship. “As the tournament progressed, we became really good at that,” he added.
SPRINGBOKS READY FOR HYBRID PITCH
Attention has also turned to the new Wembley surface, which has been upgraded to a hybrid pitch. The mix of grass and synthetic fibres has been used in several European leagues.
“I haven’t played on it,” Jerry admitted. “But a few URC and Premiership players have. They’ll know how it behaves.”
While conditions and hype swirl around the build-up, Jerry’s focus remains on execution and control. “It’s not all about attacking rugby,” he reminded. “Sometimes, you need to slow things down and play smart.”
