Grateful Dixon predicts a proper Wales duel

Following the Springboks’ victory over Scotland in Pretoria on Saturday, Ben-Jason Dixon immediately cast his eye to the challenge awaiting the Boks when they host Wales in Durban next week and said they were in for another big game.

The versatile Bok forward started on the replacements bench in both Nations Championship victories over England and Scotland.

The Springboks overcame a determined Scottish outfit by 42-28 in a grind of a battle in which the teams entered the break level on 14 points apiece and while Dixon echoed Bok coach Rassie Erasmus’ sentiments that their performance was far from perfect, he said there were several positives the team could take out of the match.

The victory marked the Springboks’ 10th Test win in a row, and making the achievement even more remarkable, they did so with a very young squad on paper and 10 changes to the starting lineup that faced England in the competition opener.

Speaking after the game, Dixon said he was pleased with the progress he was making on a personal level as he builds on his Springbok career and spoke highly about the depth within the national squad, while looking ahead to the battle against Wales next week.

“It’s massive,” Dixon said of the Test against Wales in Durban.

“It’s going to be a big challenge. They're just getting better and better and they're tough guys to play against.

“We struggled a little when Scotland got back into it in the second half and Wales are going to be no different. They are a very difficult team to break down defensively and they also have a good kicking game, so we are very excited for the match.

“We don't know exactly which team is going to front up but it will be a good game to end the first leg of the Nations Championship.”

Reflecting on his growth within the Springbok set-up after earning his ninth Test cap in the match, Dixon said: “I feel as though my confidence is growing a little every week and I'm glad we got the win but there's plenty to work on.”

With the main talking point for most of the week being the inexperience in the Springbok team at Test level compared to Scotland, Dixon was pleased with the way the side rose to the challenge.

“When the game was in the balance, the guys got stuck in and I was very proud to see that,” he said.

“Unfortunately, I went off with the yellow card but the guys defended a couple of phases and we managed to turn the game around again and get a bit more territory and dominance at the breakdown. It was amazing to see and to be a part of it again when I got back on the field.

“I think there are a lot of brilliant players (in the squad), and the young guys are excited to put their hands up and do well. We are also very privileged to learn from guys who know how to win.

“When you put some of the double Rugby World Cup champions in a team, you just see how the level rises and how they take the messages from the meeting room to the training field and then into the match, and we learn a lot from them. To get opportunities like this is awesome. The intensity on the field is high, and we learn a lot from those moments.”

The Springboks travelled from Johannesburg to Durban on Sunday and will begin their on-field preparations for the match against Wales at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Monday.