Springbok backline coach Ricardo Loubscher had high praise for Jan Serfontein’s performance in the first Test against Wales, but admits that the team need to improve their second half performance for the second match in Nelspruit this weekend.
Serfontein made his first start for the Springboks in the first Test against Wales on Saturday, putting in a solid display at inside centre and demonstrating South Africa’s strength in depth in the position given the unavailability of Jean de Villiers, Frans Steyn and Damian de Allende.
“I was really pleased with Jan’s performance. There have been so many different centre combinations playing for us over the past year, but he came in and seemed to know exactly what to expect and he looked at home there,” said Loubscher.
“He was playing against quality opponents (in the form of Lions midfield pairing Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies) so it was a good test for him, and he came through it well. He ran hard lines and good angles. It was a really great performance.”
Loubscher, however, admitted that the second half had been a concern and highlighted problem areas to work on before Saturday’s return match against the Welsh at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
“We weren’t happy with our second half. I think it was down to small detail that we got wrong. We need to rectify those mistakes and get the detail right. I wouldn’t say we are expecting a backlash from Wales this week, but we did lose a bit of shape in that second half. We need to look at our execution.”
