Boks aim to keep momentum going

IF WE CAN GROW WE SHOULD GET THE RESULT

The weight of expectation lies heavily on the Springboks ahead of today’s Rugby Championship Test against Australia in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium where they are still unbeaten.

With all 46 000 tickets sold out, the Boks will be keen to continue where they have left off in their win against the All Blacks in Wellington and expect a Kiwi backlash next weekend at Loftus Versfeld.

While gale-force winds swept through the Friendly City yesterday, coach Rassie Erasmus has stopped short of saying this is a must-win game after losing 23-18 to the Wallabies.

“We haven’t had one game where we could say this is a walk in the park, like maybe in the previous seasons somewhere, the end-of-year tour is even tougher,” he said.

“I think if we are going week by week and say ‘this game is so important or that game we need to win’ , we will keep on saying it until the World Cup final.”

Erasmus will however be keen to see whether players like Sikhumbuzo Notshe at No 8, Cheslin Kolbe at rightwing and Andre Esterhuizen at inside centre pass their tests.

“If we can grow we should get the result. But if we take a step back it will be a tough game and a losing game probably,” he said.

“So we have to grow every single week and make this week better than last week, so getting the result is something we are striving towards to.”

Wallaby coach Michael Cheika is however in an even worse position having lost three of his four Championship Tests and his head could be on the block, but Erasmus reminded everyone he was in the same boat just a week ago.

“His (Cheika) first year of coaching he was Coach-of-theYear and then the next year you lose a few games and the pressure is on,” said Erasmus.

“I just see the way the people are talking about the All Blacks now and suddenly see holes in their defensive system, but we don’t see it that way.

“They (Australia) beat us the last time, so a week in rugby is really short and teams can turn around really easily,” he added.

Erasmus however doesn’t believe Argentina will beat the All Blacks later tonight to keep the Boks’ title hopes alive.

“Argentina beat us convincingly and then we managed to beat the All Blacks, so a Puma win is not that far-fetched, but I think the All Blacks will pitch up and probably give them a hiding,” he said.