Known for his outspoken views on the Springboks, New Zealand pundit Ben Smith was at it again after South Africa dispatched England 45-21 in their Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park in Johannesburg over the weekend.
It was about as comprehensive a performance as any Springbok fan could have hoped for from Rassie Erasmus’ side, especially at the same venue where South Africa suffered a shock 38-22 defeat to Australia in last year’s Rugby Championship.
This time there was no rust or slow start to the international season, with the Boks producing a dominant display against England.
Yet Smith was far from convinced.
Smith Criticises England’s Aerial Game as Springboks Secure 45-Point Victory in Rugby Nations Championship
“England were horrible in the aerial game. South Africa just went the easy route, bombing and then winning cheap penalties,” Smith wrote on X.
“Those 22 entries for their tries in 1st half were gifts. Both teams skewed for power, much slower than NZ vs France. Is it wrong to say Boks weren’t that impressive with the ball? Willemse great in the air though.”
It’s no secret that 2026 is expected to be another year of experimentation for Erasmus as he continues building depth ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The traditional Rugby Championship has been replaced this season by the new Rugby Nations Championship, giving the Springboks a fresh set of challenges against both Northern and Southern Hemisphere opposition.
Whether Smith’s criticism proves justified will become clearer over the coming months, but after scoring 45 points against England, Erasmus is unlikely to lose much sleep over it.
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
