Rassie Erasmus Singles Out Springboks Star Who Changed Momentum in SA’s Favour Against All Blacks
- The Springboks defeated the All Blacks 43-28 in Baltimore to seal a 3-1 series victory in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry
- Rassie Erasmus credited one player's action as the turning point in a game he felt was anyone's until the final minutes
- Erasmus opened up about who the Springboks ultimately play for, revealing the one reason behind everything they do
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The Springboks closed out Rugby's Greatest Rivalry with a commanding 43-28 win over the All Blacks in Baltimore on Saturday, claiming the series 3-1 with six tries at a sold-out M&T Bank Stadium.
Rassie Erasmus was quick to play down the significance of the result, stressing that the final score did not accurately show the difference between the Springboks and New Zealand.
The Springboks head coach refused to claim that his team was clearly the better side, explaining that the contest remained evenly balanced around the 60-minute mark. He pointed out that South Africa ultimately came out on top because they had more points on the scoreboard, which he described as the key factor in most matches.
Erasmus admitted that he was still unsure about the outcome until the final 11 minutes. While pleased with the victory, he stressed that the Springboks did not believe the result reflected the actual gap between the two teams.
Arendse the turning point
Erasmus identified wing Kurt-Lee Arendse's second-half try as the moment that shifted the contest decisively in South Africa's favour.
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"When Kurt-Lee started burning, of course, Kurt-Lee himself admitted he was going through a bit of a dip, a mental dip and a physical dip, and he had concussions and stuff," Erasmus said. "I thought when Kurt-Lee scored that try, that was pivotal. I thought the game was still there, anybody's game."
Arendse's score came at a critical juncture, helping the world champions pull clear after a tightly contested second half.
Playing for South Africans
With 68,173 fans inside M&T Bank Stadium, including a strong South African expatriate presence, Erasmus used his post-match comments to recognise supporters both at the venue and back home.
He stressed that the Springboks value the support of South Africans everywhere, from those living on farms and in townships to people at work or out shopping.
The coach admitted that South Africa’s playing style does not always win over neutral fans around the world, but insisted that this has little bearing on the team’s priorities. He made it clear that the Springboks’ main motivation is to win matches and give South African supporters something to celebrate.
Erasmus also emphasised that the team’s efforts are ultimately driven by a desire to make South African people proud, regardless of how their approach to rugby is received internationally.
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Source: Briefly News
