Boks regain swagger
TWO years ago the Springboks had plunged to one of the lowest points in their proud history.
On Saturday they will play in the Rugby World Cup final against England in Yokohama.
It’s quite the turnaround and Rassie Erasmus has been instrumental.
The South Africa coach has restored pride in the Boks jersey and driven home to his players what it means to play for your country.
Then came the more tactical changes, getting the team to play the Boks way — physical, straightforward, focusing on the set piece. All that was on display in the 19-16 win over Wales in their World Cup semi- final.
“I think there were players in South Africa who just saw rugby as good pay cheque,” Erasmus said, describing his journey since his appointment in February 2018.
“Now players realise if they want to be a professional rugby player you have to work very hard.”
Erasmus said Springboks players had now taken responsibility and ownership of what it means to be a professional rugby player. Siya Kolisi, the player Erasmus appointed South Africa’s first black rugby captain, agreed.
“He made it clear that the Springbok is the most important thing,” Kolisi said.
In those bleak days at the start of this World Cup cycle, the Springboks suffered a first loss to Italy; their heaviest defeat in history, 57-0 to the All Blacks in New Zealand; and then a record loss to Ireland in late 2017.
Allister Coetzee was replaced by Erasmus after just 11 wins in 25 games in charge.
It took time for Erasmus’s methods to take hold, but the Boks have lost just once in 2019 — to New Zealand in the pool stage of the Cup.
England will start as favourite in the final but South Africa is the Rugby Championship title-holder.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure the World Cup final is going to be won by a very expansive game plan,” Erasmus said.