men’s
international
Rassie Erasmus maintains that the Springboks must continue putting in effort before securing the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry title, even after clinching a tense 29-24 victory over the All Blacks in Saturday’s thrilling third Test at FNB Stadium.
This win gives the South African side a 2-1 advantage before the final showdown in Baltimore next weekend, though the Springbok head coach wasted no time downplaying claims that the series was already decided.
“While many observers claimed the series would be decided here in South Africa, that is simply not the case. We have contested three matches on home soil and hold a single-game lead, but the concluding fixture lies ahead,” Erasmus stated.
“I realize we are safe from an outright defeat since point margins or try counts do not serve as tie-breakers. However, the silverware is physically split into two sections to be divided in the event of a series tie. So, the contest remains wide open.”
Both squads are set to share a flight to America for the fourth and final encounter, prompting Erasmus to joke that he might share a beverage with New Zealand coach Dave Rennie before both focus entirely back on the crucial decider.
South Africa
New Zealand
“I hope Dave and I can sit down for a beer,” he remarked. “His pint might taste slightly more bitter, whereas mine will taste a bit sweeter.
“But once we touch down on Sunday, it is right back into training camp.
“We will evaluate our squad’s fitness, map out our strategy, and prepare for another clash between the world’s top two teams. This represents the ultimate rugby rivalry; our goal is to clinch the series, while they will fight to level it.
“So, without a doubt, it is going to be incredibly significant.”
The Springboks were forced to dig deep for their triumph after playing catch-up for a large portion of the match. South Africa only took their first lead in the 58th minute, finally carving out some breathing space in a chaotic final period before resisting a late surge from New Zealand.
Erasmus acknowledged that the encounter delivered everything one would anticipate from a clash between the globe’s two premier teams.
“We are delighted tonight. The battle was monumental and incredibly fierce,” he commented.
“The final scoreline truly reflects just how tight the contest was. Ultimately, we are just thrilled to come away with the win.
“Now we travel together on the same aircraft, and our challenge is to produce a similar performance in Baltimore.
“They clearly controlled the opening half. We all admire their exceptional ball-handling skills, which they execute beautifully.
“Fortunately, we managed to head into the break on equal terms, which kept our hopes alive.”
The South African mastermind confessed to feeling the nerves in the dying moments as the upper hand swung back and forth between the old foes.
“I have no idea what my pulse was, but we were definitely on edge,” he noted.
“And I suspect they were feeling the tension as well.
“This is a massive occasion. When the top two nations in the world collide, dominance can shift from one Saturday to the next, and this match certainly lived up to the billing.
“And let me be clear, we aren’t basking in self-satisfaction or thinking we are absolutely flawless.
“We are well aware that we benefited from a significant amount of good fortune out there.”
