Dawn of a new era
RASSIE: COACH WANTS TO HIT GROUND RUNNING IN HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT
Wales pose huge threat in one-off Test in Washington.
The start of the Rassie Erasmus era and a new chapter in Springbok rugby. This is how the Test in Washington DC against Wales tonight is viewed, with a new coach in Erasmus and a new captain in Pieter-Steph du Toit.
On arrival on Thursday morning the entire squad and management wore commemorative Madiba T-shirts in honour of the 100-year anniversary celebrations of former SA President Nelson Mandela.
“I’m definitely nervous but if I’m still here in two years from now I will still be nervous,” said Erasmus.
“Not because it’s the first Test but because we want to get pillars in place as quickly as possible.”
There’s also the small matter of having lost the last two Tests against Wales and no doubt Erasmus will already be judged after his first Test ... but he expected nothing less.
“It will be a challenge but we knew that and it’s no excuse, so I’m really curious to see how quickly we can get it right,” he said.
“I’m extremely hopeful and I think the players are excited, we have been nicely open about it all and about what the challenge entails and how quickly it must fall into place.”
With new players like scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl, wing Travis Ismaiel and flank Kwagga Smith in the spotlight, Erasmus said they need to execute what they have been drilled at in training.
“We know the pressure is on us, but there’s more excitement than nerves,” said the ever-smiling Erasmus, a dynamic former Bok flank and skipper (one Test) in his playing days.
While the Welsh have – like the Boks – also opted for a below-strength side, there is no denying that both sides want to win.
“We are playing against a Welsh team that is higher ranked than England in the Six Nations, who did better than England in the Six Nations – and there’s 21 players who their coach think can go to the World Cup,” he said.
“So it’s going to be a helluva challenge first up.”
For years it has been advocated that the shrewd Erasmus was the man to take Bok rugby forward and while the greater focus is on the England series next week, he remained open-minded.
“Obviously we want get everything 100% right, because it takes time. But next week we will be a little better. The quicker we can get it right the better.”
The referee is Matthew Carley of England who made his international debut as a referee in 2016 in Sacramento, California in a Test between the US and Russia, but this Test will be his first where South Africa are involved.
Kick-off: 11pm.