‘We took our opportunities,’ says Kolisi after Boks’ win against Scots

The Springboks claimed a comprehensive 30-15 win over Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, storming back from a halftime deficit to pick up a comfortable win in the end after a solid performance on attack from the visitors.

Captain Siya Kolisi was however quick to point out in the post match presser that it was the same game plan that they always played, they just managed to take their opportunities when it counted.

“We are happy with the way we played, we didn’t change anything. People always think we change our strategy for each game but today we played like we normally play, it was just that the opportunities were there,” explained Kolisi.

“Our game plan and the way we kick was the same, we kick so that we can get opportunities. When we were playing in Australia (when the Boks lost two in a row in the Rugby Championship) we just didn’t take our opportunities, but that’s what our game plan creates, the same as in the World Cup final.”

ALSO READ: Springboks power past Scotland at Murrayfield

At the start of the match the Boks had a host of opportunities to get themselves on the board which they didn’t take, however they eventually started to take their chances and then took full control of the game in the second half.

Left wing Makazole Mapimpi showed his superb finishing skills to dot down twice, while a conversion from flyhalf Elton Jantjies and six penalties from the boots of Jantjies, replacement flyhalf Handre Pollard and replacement fullback Frans Steyn helped the team to the impressive win.

However, it was a massive defensive performance as well as some superb play from the forwards and backs that made it a team effort, with some great chasing and big hits leading to a host of errors from the Scots, which the Boks then profited from.

“Our two tries, you will see, we didn’t play any different, we put so much pressure that they would knock on or we would win the ball back and then we went and scored. The first try for Mapimpi was from a kick receive and we moved it wide,” said Kolisi.

“So there is nothing different from what we normally do. We just took the opportunities very well and that is the most important thing, it is the same as the World Cup, we just have to open our eyes and see those opportunities and I thought today we took those opportunities.”