South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has called on his wingers to improve their finishing skills ahead of the second round of Tri-Nations games.
The Boks missed several chances in losing to Australia a week ago, and De Villiers, speaking at a function in Kuils Rivier, believes this is one area in which his team must do better.
"It is a problem that our Springbok wings lack the ability to provide the finishing touch when the try-line is in sight," said De Villiers.
"When you’re playing at international level you expect wings to apply the finish with clinical precision."
De Villiers, however, praised his side’s "intelligence" when it came to grasping his gameplan.
"Once we’ve spent time off the field discussing moves or drills the players have no difficulty in executing them when we get on to the training field," said De Villiers.
"I have been surprised at how quick players can implement new ideas.
"A player like Victor Matfield is worth so much to the team, because the younger players learn so much from them, and sometimes they learn more from the seniors than from the coaches.
"I asked Andries [Bekker] about his stint in the Springbok squad and all he could tell me was about how Victor Matfield was helping him. He [Bekker] had nothing to say about what I was doing for the side," De Villiers joked.
