Rassie praises Siya and senior players
RASSIE Erasmus said Saturday’s first Test win against England at Ellis Park gave him some breathing room ahead of the second Test, but he said the Springboks would have to improve in several areas before going into the Bloemfontein game.
The Boks turned around a 24-3 deficit in Erasmus’ second Test in charge to win 42-39 in a pulsating game on Saturday, for his first win as Bok boss. It was a historic day for South African rugby with Siya Kolisi becoming the first black Bok captain.
While the Boks were rocked early by three England tries, they hit back in the middle stages of the match to register some wonderful tries themselves to ensure they started the three match series on the right foot. Erasmus’ decision to back rookie wings Aphiwe Dyantyi and Sbu Nkosi, with a try and a brace respectively, debutant lock RG Snyman and three overseas-based men in Willie le Roux, Faf de Klerk and Duane Vermeulen paid off handsomely as all of them contributed significantly to the win.
Also, Bongi Mbonambi, playing at this level for the first time in months after suffering a burst appendix which kept him out of the game since February, produced a classy performance at hooker.
Erasmus said he was happy with certain aspects of his team’s performance – especially the efforts put in by the youngsters – but that the defence and breakdown needed plenty of attention. The Boks leaked three soft tries early on to be on the back foot.
“We didn’t get enough width out wide ... but we had two young wings and an outside centre (Lukyanho Am) who are new at this level. Of course they were also nervous in the first few minutes ... and England exploited us out wide with pin-point passing and kicking,” explained Erasmus. “Once we got width it went well (in defence).
“But the defence is something we must work on. The guys must also get used to it, and each other. ”
The Bok boss was also somewhat concerned about the breakdown, suggesting his team had got “a little lucky” at times against the experienced England forwards. “We’re going to have to give it some attention. We don’t have an out-and-out fetcher ... but the win helps to give me space to breathe.”
From an attacking perspective, the Boks did well at times, with the backs playing with speed and width, something that pleased Erasmus. “The attack was good for a team that is more renowned for kicking the ball back,” he said. “I’m glad we attacked with freedom. We made a lot of errors, too, but we’re getting there.”
Winning after being so far behind and playing without several first choice men – like Trevor Nyakane, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Warren Whiteley and Malcolm Marx among others – spoke of the character in the side, and Erasmus said he was pleased with his team’s fighting spirit.
“Being 24-3 down, things could have gone badly wrong. But credit to Siya and the senior guys ... they calmed things down and turned the game around. At the end we scraped through but it showed there is character in this side.”
England coach Eddie Jones joined in on the praise of the Springboks as a victory for transformation in South Africa, reports
.Jones said that the Springboks victory was made even sweeter and significant in world rugby by it being Siya Kolisi’s maiden Test as the first black Springbok captain.
“Full congratulations to South Africa for winning the game. Obviously it’s a big moment for the country to have Kolisi as captain and win his first game at Ellis Park. Whilst I’m desperately unhappy to have lost the game, I think it is a great thing for rugby generally and for the game here particularly,” said Jones.
Jones has an intimate knowledge of rugby in South Africa having coached Australian Super Rugby outfit the Queensland Reds and the Wallabies while he served as a consultant in Jake White’s World Cup winning squad in 2007.
Vata Ngobeni.
While having been attributed as a pivotal cog in the Springboks brains trust that won the World Cup, Jones was also at the centre of the Springboks darkest hour in World Cup history when he guided Japan to victory at the 2015 Rugby World Cup against the Springboks in what was dubbed “the biggest upset in the history of rugby”.
The 58-year-old Jones believes the Springboks win in Kolisi’s first game in charge and the good smattering of black players in the team, six in the starting line-up and nine out of the match day 23, means that transformation is working in a sport that has grappled with the emotive issue.
“I’m not a politician. I’d make a very bad politician, I get in enough trouble just being a coach.
“Obviously the transformation and the first black captain and to win at Ellis Park, the spiritual homeland of the Springboks rugby, I think is an enormously symbolic thing for South African rugby and shows that transformation is working.
“He is probably going to be a good captain. Let’s hope he is not too good this series,” Jones said.
Bok coach Erasmus has emphasized the need for transformation to happen in South African rugby and his commitment to the cause has been evident in half of his initial 43 men squad being black players.