Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says the players should learn from the passion of the Springboks about their display against France at the Rugby World Cup.
The national team produced one of the best performances of the tournament to grind out a historic 29-28 victory to dump the hosts out of the quarter-final.
In stark comparison, Bafana laboured to a 0-0 draw with 145th-ranked eSwatini at FNB Stadium ahead of their clash against Ivory Coast in Abidjan on Tuesday.
“Yes I am sure [there’s enough time to turn things around]. It depends also a little bit on the reaction and mentality of the players, I think they are all conscious that Friday was a very bad game at all levels,” Broos said.
“Quality, mentality, passion, there was nothing. I think they are conscious about that, we spoke about it and I’m sure tomorrow they will be ready to make a good performance.
“I think it’s quite easy to turn it around because the past proved that they can do it differently, the quality is there. It’s not a question of quality, more a question of mentality and underestimating the opponent.
“We weren’t ready from the beginning of the game and then you have more problems against an opponent like this, I’m confident tomorrow will be different because they know they playing Ivory Coast so from the beginning they will be more focused than Friday.
“I don’t agree with it, they are professionals and have to do it in every game and when you see yesterday evening [the Springboks], the passion and the way they are playing, I think we have a lot to learn about [from] them.”
South Africa will have their final training session this evening before their fixture against the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations hosts at Le Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigne on Tuesday (21h00).
