Despite securing a fourth consecutive win over New Zealand, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was quick to emphasise the deep respect his team holds for their rivals.
Well into the week after the Springboks claimed a historic victory over New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday, South Africans are still on a high.
The Bokke clinched the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009 in a tightly contested match at DHL Stadium, beating the All Blacks 18-12 in front of a passionate crowd of 57,733, continuing their unbeaten run in the 2024 Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Despite securing a fourth consecutive win over New Zealand, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was quick to emphasise the deep respect his team holds for their rivals. He downplayed the significance of the streak, acknowledging the All Blacks’ legacy and achievements.
“We respect them immensely as a team,” Erasmus said, underscoring the gravity of the All Blacks’ accomplishments. “(Springbok assistant coach) Tony Brown put what the haka and the way they think into perspective for us as a group, and that really helped us understand them better and play better.”
While the victory was a milestone for the Springboks, Erasmus maintained that there is no need for overconfidence.
“It’s important to understand what winning four consecutive games against them means, but they’ve beaten us many times in a row too and achieved so much, so it’s not something to brag about, but it feels good.”
Erasmus further highlighted the significance of winning the Freedom Cup, especially in light of South Africa’s current socio-political context.
“We wanted to win this badly for South Africa. This was also good for our hopes of winning the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, but we still have some work to do in that regard.”
And work hard they did on Saturday after New Zealand took control of the game early, leading 9-3 at halftime. However, the Springboks bounced back in the second half, scoring two tries and preventing the All Blacks from crossing the try line.
Reflecting on the slow start, Erasmus said, “I think we were too emotional when we started, but after halftime, we kept our composure and came back well.”
The victory further extended South Africa’s stellar form, with 20 wins in their last 23 matches. Erasmus, however, emphasised the need for humility and hard work going forward. “It is always important to stay in reality and keep working hard,” he said.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who bravely played through the match with a broken nose, echoed Erasmus’ sentiments. The skipper, who will be returning to play for the Sharks after one year plying his trade in France, stressed the importance of the win, both for the team and for the nation, saying, “We all wanted it, and we knew how big it was for us as a group. The coach showed trust in me to play, so I couldn’t go out there half-hearted.”
Kolisi acknowledged the magnitude of the game, describing it as the team’s biggest since their Rugby World Cup triumph. “After the Rugby World Cup, this was the biggest game for us as a group, and we are really happy about this achievement.”
The Springboks will enjoy a few days off before resuming preparations for their next challenge, a Test against Los Pumas in Argentina in two weeks.
