Van den Berg after Italy: “There’s a lot to improve on”

Morne van den Berg admitted that while the 66-7 victory over Italy in Turin was fantastic to build momentum going into Friday’s clash against France in Paris, they will review the match thoroughly to identify the areas in which they can improve this week.

The Test against France will be followed by a clash against Ireland in Dublin next week Saturday, before the competition wraps up with a jam-packed Finals Weekend in London the weekend of 27 to 29 November.

The Bok scrumhalf, who was named Player of the Match in the Boks’ opening match on the Nations Championship Northern Series, said the accolade was special and that he will always cherish wearing the green and gold but there is still work to be done.

“There’s a lot to improve on in our game, which is actually quite exciting,” Van den Berg said after the game, in which he scored one of the Boks' nine tries.

“We’ll study the video and see exactly where we can improve but credit to Italy for putting us under pressure in the second half.

“They are an incredible team and nation and we expected that but that’s perhaps where we could have been better. They are incredible people and warriors.”

While the Boks were disappointed with their second half performance after building an impressive 45-0 lead at half-time, he said getting the desired result was vital going forward in the inaugural competition.

“It was especially important to get our game and the things we worked on during the week right,” said Van den Berg.

“Obviously it was important for us to get momentum going into next week’s game, so the result was very important.”

The Springboks made the journey from Italy to France on Saturday evening and arrived at their base later that night to allow them to turn to their focus immediately to Friday’s match, which kicks off at 10.10pm (SAST) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Meanwhile, experienced lock Eben Etzebeth has been called up to the national squad and will join the Springboks in France on Monday, while uncapped flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed will return to South Africa on Sunday due to a shoulder niggle.

Etzebeth, the most capped Bok with 147 Test appearances, was ruled out of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ initial touring squad for the second phase of the Nations Championship due to injury. However, he is now fit and has been recalled to the squad in place of Ahmed.

The 20-year-old Ahmed, one of six uncapped players in the squad, was sidelined with a sore shoulder which saw him miss most of the training sessions in the build-up to the Boks’ 66-7 victory against Italy in Turin on Saturday.

“We are very sad for Yaqeen after earning his first call-up to the national squad but we feel it will be best for him to return to South Africa to recover,” said Erasmus on Sunday.

“After being with us for a week, he has a good idea of how we operate and has more insight into our systems, and we are confident that the experience will benefit him immensely as a player going forward.

“With enough backline cover in the squad and a number of versatile players among them, we opted to call up Eben, who will not only bring vast experience to the group at this vital stage of the Nations Championship but also valuable leadership skills, especially with two important matches against France and Ireland in the next two weeks before the Finals Weekend of the tournament.”

Erasmus will name his match-23 to face France on Monday.

Springbok squad for second leg of Nations Championship

Props: Thomas du Toit, Ox Nche (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Zachary Porthen (all DHL Stormers), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls).

Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).

Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stade Rochelais), Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears), Riley Norton (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat).

Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers, Siya Kolisi (both DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Emmanuel Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls).

Scrumhalves: Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (10bet Lions), Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers).

Flyhalves: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Luan Giliomee (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners).

Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Markus Muller (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).

Outside backs: Sebastian de Klerk (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Edwill van der Merwe (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).

FIXTURES

France v South Africa @ Stade de France, Saint-Denis - Friday (10.10pm)

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Assistant Referee 1: Christophe Ridley (RFU)

Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

FPRO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)

Ireland v South Africa @ Aviva Stadium, Dublin - Saturday, 21 November (6.40pm)

Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)

Assistant Referee 1: Angus Gardner (RA)

Assistant Referee 2: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU)

TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)

FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)