Rassie Erasmus Opens Up on What Springboks Will Miss Against All Blacks in Baltimore

• Rassie Erasmus addressed the challenge of facing the All Blacks on neutral ground at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the series decider
• The Springboks head coach heads into the fourth Test with a 2-1 series lead after a victory in front of nearly 86,000 fans at FNB Stadium
• Erasmus drew on the team's history of performing without home support to explain how the Boks plan to stay motivated

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has spoken about his side's readiness to compete without home support as South Africa prepare for a series-deciding fourth Test against the All Blacks in Baltimore, Maryland.

The world champions hold a 2-1 lead in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series after defeating New Zealand in the third Test at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, where a crowd of nearly 86,000 attended. The final match, scheduled at the 71,000-capacity M&T Bank Stadium, marks a significant shift in environment for both sides.

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Erasmus Points to Neutral-Ground Precedent

Erasmus was quick to note that playing the All Blacks away from home soil is not unfamiliar territory for the Springboks. During the 2021 Rugby Championship, which was disrupted by Covid-19 restrictions, South Africa faced New Zealand twice in Australia, losing 19-17 in Townsville before recovering to win 31-29 on the Gold Coast. Those fixtures followed a home British and Irish Lions series that was played entirely behind closed doors.

The Boks also defeated the All Blacks 35-7 in a 2023 World Cup warm-up at Twickenham and went on to beat them 12-11 in the World Cup final at the Stade de France in Paris.

Reflecting on the Baltimore venue, Erasmus said the fundamentals of the game remain unchanged.

"Neutral ground is still 70m by 100m. I guess it's going to be a good crowd. The only thing that we'll really miss is our home support, and [the All Blacks] will also miss their home support. We have played them on neutral ground many times, at World Cups, at Twickenham — pool matches, World Cup semi-finals, finals and things like that. So it's going to be a hell of a match."

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Motivation Rooted in Fan Support Back Home

Erasmus also addressed how the squad draws motivation when playing without their supporters present, citing their Lions series experience and Covid-era Rugby Championship matches in Australia as reference points.

"We played a British & Irish Lions series in front of no crowds in South Africa, when we were 1-0 down. We've played in Covid times in the Rugby Championship in Australia when there were almost no South Africans there because you couldn't get out of the country. So we try to remind ourselves a lot of that."

He added that South African supporters had remained largely behind the team even after the opening Test defeat.

"We saw last weekend again how South Africa supports us. After the first one we lost, some people turned against you, but the majority stayed positive and supported. We remember those things and we're obviously going to play for them."

Source: Briefly News