- British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland expects the Springboks to get better from a Test match perspective.
- The Boks beat Georgia 40-9 on Friday at Loftus Versfeld while the British and Irish Lions crushed the Lions 56-14 at Ellis Park.
- Gatland also praised Josh Adams’s performance, with the winger scoring four of the Lions’ eight tries.
British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland said South Africa will get better before the Test series between the teams starts on 24 July.
Gatland was speaking after the British and Irish Lions’ 56-14 demolition of the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
On Friday, South Africa overcame a slow start to see off Georgia 40-9 at Loftus Versfeld in what was their first Test in exactly 20 months.
Gatland said the Springboks showed glimpses of what they’re capable of and got their basics right as the game progressed.
“South Africa were a bit rusty and it showed that they haven’t played for quite a while,” Gatland said.
“They got some dominance and they got ahead. They looked to play some rugby, but they also showed what they are capable of doing.
“They did well in the lineouts and there was strong individual running and that’s not something that was unexpected.
“They will definitely improve with the combinations next week and like us, they’ll be looking to improve each week in training and getting more games under your belt.”
Four of the British and Irish Lions’ tries were scored by Welsh winger Josh Adams.
He’ll be familiar with South Africans, having scored Wales’ only try in the 19-16 loss against the Springboks in the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final in Yokohama.
Gatland said Adams, who’ll be in competition with South African-born wing Duhan van der Merwe, knows where the try-line is and has an impeccable finishing record that speaks for itself.
“He knows where the try-line is and I kept saying that you can’t ignore what he has achieved as a player,” Gatland said.
“He was the top try-scorer in the Under-20 World Cup and when Worcester were the bottom team in the Premiership, he was the top try scorer.
“He was the top try-scorer in the World Cup so that speaks for itself. He’s got great timing and to get four tries was special for him.”