James Slipper: Springboks loss must motivate Wallabies to improve

Wallabies captain James Slipper wants his side to use the pain of their loss to the Springboks as motivation to improve going forward.

Australia were soundly beaten by the Springboks 24-8 at the newly-built Allianz Stadium in Sydney this weekend, once again putting their lack of consistency in the spotlight.

Frustrating clash

Slipper felt his side did not get into the game and was frustrated by being dominated in the contact point. The skipper knows his side has plenty to work on ahead of their Bledisloe Tests against New Zealand.

“I just wanted the boys to realise how much it hurts and hold on to that, really, and let that drive you into the future,” Slipper said after the game.

“This one has to hurt a lot, I want the boys to hurt because, yes, South Africa were good, but I just felt like we didn’t really play much rugby at all.

“Them winning the collision really hurts me.”

Slipper says the team need to look at themselves to see where they can improve but still believe the Wallabies are on the right track.

“We wanted to review last week … and be a better rugby team. At no stage do we think we’re the finished product,” he said.

“Individually, we just need to have a look at ourselves and I’m confident we’re tracking the right direction and we just need a bit more polish and just need to execute on the pressure.”

Head up for the All Blacks Tests

The front-row knows his side needs to process the loss and focus on the Tests against the All Blacks if they are to come away with a good result.

“We can be disappointed for a day or two, but at the end of the day we’ve got the All Blacks coming up in two weeks, and if you’re still kicking cans around at that time, then that’s not going to help anyone,” he said.

“I want it to hurt but at the same time I want to be better, we’ve got to be better and that’s what I just put as a challenge to the group.”

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