Bok coach happy with pressure, but done with 'irritating' off-field noises: We've got nothing to hide

In Durban

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said they were more than happy to cope with rugby-related pressures, but added the off-field noises were 'irritating'.

The Boks, who will face Argentina in what will be a Rugby Championship deciding game at Kings Park on Saturday, have had to weather off-the-field storms in the past two weeks.

One of those storms has robbed them of pivot Elton Jantjies, an absence that's necessitated Frans Steyn to have a first start at 10 in more than 14 years.

READ | Why Bok coach opted against Elton Jantjies return: 'It would have been unfair'

As world champions, the Boks have a clear idea of how to deal with pressure on the field. What has come their way from an off-the-field perspective hasn't sat well with Nienaber, who said they had nothing to hide.

"The rugby pressure is nice because that is what you want, but the other pressure is disappointing," Nienaber said.

"We know the truth and we've put up a statement and we've always said we're going to be truthful and if there's off-the-field stuff that we can comment on that's truthful, then we'll do so.

"We've got nothing to hide, so we feel the noise has been irritating. No coach wants their team to have that kind of pressure on their team."

"It's got nothing to do with rugby, but we like the rugby pressure, and we like that fact that Saturday's game is a final.

"We like the fact that all four teams are still in it to win it."

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18