Rassie Erasmus says there is no chance of the Springboks getting sucked into the public sentiment that England are there for the Springboks’ taking at Ellis Park on Saturday (kick-off 5.40pm).
England are coming off their worst-ever Six Nations campaign, which included a first-ever loss to Italy but concluded with a spirited defeat in Paris to France.
“Obviously, if you just look at past results and stats, and you do not do your homework 100%, and you look at a few newspaper articles, TikTok videos, and podcasts, then it is easy to just go with the flow and maybe have the wrong opinion,” the coach explained.
“The Six Nations was a while ago. Things can change around quickly in rugby. From experience, a week is a long time, never mind a few months. I remember the Boks losing 57-0 in Albany in New Zealand (in 2017), and a week later they lost by two points to the same team (in Cape Town).
“Five months after we got well beaten a few times (in the Rugby Championship) we went to the World Cup in Japan and won it,” Erasmus continued. “Last year, Australia thrashed us at Ellis Park, and we went on to win the Rugby Championship.”
Erasmus added that Thomas du Toit, who has just returned from three years in the English Premiership, has warned his teammates about the high calibre of the English players.
“We know what we are in for this Saturday. England have come here to win, we understand that, and want the victory just as much.”
This Saturday, the Boks return to Ellis Park to host England, meaning Erasmus has come full circle since the 2018 match against the same team at the same venue. That 42-39 defeat of Eddie Jones’ England was Erasmus’ first victory as Springboks coach.
He was asked if the hunger was still the same for him.
“My biggest fear is probably not losing, because in sport you will lose games — last year we lost a few and the year before that, too. My biggest fear is not stopping coaching or those inevitable defeats.
“My biggest fear is around damaging the special togetherness we have in South Africa. It gives me an adrenaline rush; I fear that going. That is why we work so hard.”
Erasmus explained that being in camp preparing for games is his “safe place.”
“When we finish playing in November, the period December to January is when we watch a lot of rugby and do succession planning. We are not in camp, so you get time to think and take stock.
“When we get back into the camp, then the energy flows. It is my safe place; it is where we have been through good and bad times, and you know the players and the coaching staff, all the personalities.
“It is when I am in camp that I reflect on the ups and downs, the not-so-great times, and you prepare to give yourself a shot at more great times.”
