In a thrilling encounter at the DHL Stadium, the Springboks secured an 18-12 victory over the All Blacks, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. With a crowd of 57,733 roaring them on, the Boks demonstrated their resilience and respect for their formidable rivals.
This victory marks the Boks’ fourth consecutive win over New Zealand, dating back to their Rugby World Cup warm-up clash in London last year. Despite this achievement, Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks’ coach, emphasized the deep respect they hold for the All Blacks.
“We respect the All Blacks immensely as a team,” Erasmus stated. “Springbok assistant coach Tony Brown helped us understand the significance of the haka and their mindset, which was crucial for us. It’s important to recognize what winning four consecutive games against them means, but they’ve beaten us many times too. It’s not something to boast about, but it certainly feels good.”
Erasmus also highlighted the importance of the Freedom Cup, which the Boks were determined to win for South Africa. “This victory means a lot for South Africa, especially with where we are now. It’s great for our chances in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, but we know there’s still work to be done.”
Reflecting on the game, Erasmus noted the team’s slow start for the second consecutive week. The All Blacks led 9-3 at halftime, but the Boks regrouped and dominated the second half, scoring two tries while keeping New Zealand tryless.
“We were a bit too emotional at the start, but after halftime, we kept our composure and executed our game plan,” said Erasmus. “We’ve now won 20 out of 23 games, which is special, but it’s crucial to stay grounded and keep working hard.”
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who played with a broken nose, echoed Erasmus’ sentiments, emphasizing the significance of the Freedom Cup. “We all wanted this win badly, and the coach showed trust in me to play, so I couldn’t go out there half-hearted. We didn’t start well, but we stuck to our plan in the second half, and it paid off.”
Kolisi described the match as the Boks’ biggest since the Rugby World Cup: “This was a massive game for us, and we’re thrilled with this achievement.”
With this hard-fought victory behind them, the Springboks will enjoy a few days off before gearing up for their next challenge against Los Pumas in Argentina in two weeks’ time.
