“We must make sure we’re not comfortable after this win and think we’re all good again because there were things we didn’t do well.”
Those were the words of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus after South Africa levelled Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry with a hard-fought 33-26 victory over New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Boks bounced back from their defeat at Ellis Park in the opening Test to square the series, but Erasmus knows there is little time for his team to celebrate with the third encounter at FNB Stadium in Soweto looming.
With the series in the balance, the winner in Johannesburg will take a crucial lead into the fourth and final encounter in the USA. That leaves the world champions with plenty to fix despite producing an improved performance in Cape Town.
They also reclaimed the No 1 spot in the world rankings following the win.
“I felt the pressure, I was nervous. I think the players will tell you I felt the pressure,” Erasmus said.
“Who wants to support a losing team? No one in South Africa wants to support anything that’s not working. A loss here and there doesn’t make you a losing team immediately, but it’s when you go on a losing run that the pressure comes on.
“They are a brilliant team and there are definitely things we must fix.”
The Springboks were more clinical in the second Test, particularly when they put pressure on the All Blacks with their physicality and set-piece play, but the visitors showed enough quality to keep the hosts under pressure until the final whistle.
Erasmus also confirmed that fullback Damian Willemse is a doubt for this weekend’s encounter, while outside centre Jessé Kriel also finished the game with an injury. He could be another casualty this week.
Despite that, their attention will immediately turn to the next encounter and what they must do to come out on top in Soweto.
South Africa will take much confidence from the Cape Town duel after fixing several errors that cost them at Ellis Park. However, the Boks are very aware that the Kiwis will also have taken plenty of learnings.
“I don’t want to be technical about the edge defence, but they have really smart players, and they are two classes up from what they were last year. The one thing we immediately agreed in the changing room is that this is a really good All Blacks team.
“This week we also did a lot of things much better, and I can tell you now that this is not the same New Zealand team we played last year. They attacked with width, they got offloads away, they’re really well coached and they’ve got athletes who can beat you on a dime. A couple more phases at the end and it could have resulted in a draw.
“Overall, we are very pleased to have levelled the series, but we know there are two tough Tests still looming.”
