Erasmus believes there is still more to come from Springboks SOUTH AFRICA 49 ITALY 3
SOUTH AFRICA coach Rassie Erasmus believes his side can still improve despite their impressive victory over 14-man Italy in a World Cup Pool B encounter in Shizuoka.
Cheslin Kolbe scored twice in a superb performance, while Bongi Mbonambi, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, RG Snyman and Malcolm Marx also got among the tries.
Italy were reduced to 14 players early in the second half after loosehead Andrea Lovotti was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Duane Vermeulen.
“It definitely wasn’t perfect,” Erasmus said. “One of the things we tried to do today was, with the 6-2 split, to try to get a physical performance out there.
“I thought tactically and technically, there were definitely some mistakes, but the way the guys physically pitch is what we wanted to get out of this game.”
The seven-try win takes South Africa to the top of Pool B, all but ensuring their quarter-final place, and Erasmus was proud of their performance.
“If we as South Africans want to go all the way, that’s something that we need in our game.
“We felt that in the previous Tests we’ve played this year, it wasn’t really consistent.
“I thought in this specific Test match, our physicality – which is one of our strengths – was very consistent through the game, and I am really proud about that.”
The only negative for South Africa came when Kolbe went down with an injury to his left leg in the closing stages.
The defeat was Italy’s first of the World Cup and means they will have to beat New Zealand to have a chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
Italy coach Conor O’Shea said: “I thought the boys fought valiantly but when you’re down numbers against such a good side it’s just impossible.
“They fought to the end our fellas, they never stopped trying but you can’t play with 14 men and it was difficult.
“We have to get ready for New Zealand next week, it doesn’t get easier, we have a good few injuries, a good few knocks and bruises from today.”
He added: “We’re hurting massively because we came here today to really show our best and we didn’t get that opportunity in the second half. At 17-3 and you lose that man, the game is done.”