Jesse Kriel vows Springboks will respond after 33-16 All Blacks loss

South Africa lost 33-16 to New Zealand at Ellis Park, but Jesse Kriel believes the Springboks can correct their mistakes before the teams meet again next Saturday at DHL Stadium in Cape Town. The centre said the squad would review the defeat and use the extra preparation time to identify answers.

Kriel, who won his 91st Test cap, said the result reflected South Africa’s failure to turn their opportunities into points. New Zealand made better use of their chances, while the Springboks lacked the precision required at the highest level of Test rugby.

He said the margin between the two sides was small, but South Africa paid for errors in important moments. Kriel added that the pressure created by the All Blacks exposed areas where the Springboks must improve before the second meeting.

The match also forced South Africa to adjust their positions several times. Kriel moved to the wing during the contest and said the team had plans for such disruptions. He felt the players adapted reasonably well, although their execution did not reach the required standard.

The Springboks will have Sunday away from training before beginning their preparations on Monday. They will stay in Johannesburg until Wednesday and travel to Cape Town on Thursday for the rematch.

A third fixture between the teams is scheduled for FNB Stadium near Soweto after the Cape Town encounter. South Africa will then travel to the United States for the final match of the competition in Baltimore. Kriel said the immediate focus, however, is on producing a more accurate performance next Saturday.