The Springboks return to South Africa with two wins and 10 points from their first two Rugby Championship matches that should set them up nicely for the rest of the southern hemisphere tournament.
Getting back-to-back wins in Australia is a good start to the Rugby Championship for the Springboks, but they know the job is far from done.
The world champions will return to South Africa with 10 points and a happy squad after all 33 players who went Down Under got playing minutes in the first two matches of the southern hemisphere tournament.
The Springboks claimed a 30-12 win over the Wallabies Perth on Saturday to back up their record-equalling 33-7 win in Brisbane two weeks ago, scoring nine tries over the two weekends and only conceding one.
What made the win at Perth’s Optus Stadium even more memorable is that head coach Rassie Erasmus made 10 changes to the starting line-up and they were still good enough to triumph over the home side.
The #Springboks will "keep their feet on the ground" as they shift their focus to the two Tests against the All Blacks – more here: https://t.co/78e4zFXck9 🔭#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/WYWEDNH6K8
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 18, 2024
As the Championship takes a one-week break, it allows the Boks to take stock of their player corps and recover ahead of the two important Tests against the All Blacks in Johannesburg and Cape Town that could decide the winner of the 2024 tournament.
Loose forward Marco van Staden was one of the players that received a start at the weekend, and the fetcher was pleased with the run, although the rain made conditions difficult.
“Getting two bonus point wins feels great, especially for the group,” Van Staden said.
“It’s a very good start to the competition but the work is not done. We still have a few important home games, big home games, and then one (against Argentina) in Buenos Aires, so we are looking forward to the next step.
“But the two wins will give us a lot of confidence, especially looking at the previous record we had (in Australia). To come away here with 10 points in two away games is amazing. Looking ahead, it will mean a lot.”
Although the wet and slippery conditions made it difficult to play their evolving running game, Van Staden was one of the key men for the Boks when carrying the ball into contact and behind the rolling maul.
Starting in place of captain Siya Kolisi, he scored one of the four tries from behind a rolling maul and will be pleased with the minutes he got in earning his 22nd Springbok cap.
He carried the ball seven times and made 21m while making 11 tackles, the joint most alongside his flanker mate Pieter-Steph du Toit in a match that tested the Bok defence severely.
“It’s always a privilege to get a start. But to wear the green and gold jersey, it doesn’t matter if it’s on the bench or in the starting line-up, it remains a privilege. So I am always very honoured to have the opportunity.”
