Rassie Erasmus eyes All Blacks after key Rugby Championship win in Cape Town

The Springboks won’t forget their mishap at Ellis Park any time soon, but Saturday’s victory in the second Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies in Cape Town will serve as a massive panacea for that wound as they shift focus to New Zealand.

Another positive for the Boks was Argentina’s gritty win over the All Blacks, which has blown the tournament wide open, with all four Southern Hemisphere teams now sitting on one win and one loss. The world champions, however, will head into their double Tests against the Kiwis with some winning momentum, following the 30–22 victory at DHL Stadium.

South Africa will face New Zealand in Auckland (6 September) and Wellington (13 September). Those two games could determine whether the Boks defend their Rugby Championship title.

As attention turns to the away leg, head coach Rassie Erasmus expressed his delight with his team’s effort to avoid a first back-to-back home loss to Australia in more than 60 years.

“We got the balance between running and kicking a bit better this time around,” Erasmus said.

“However, we saw how dangerous Australia was when we didn’t win the ball back with our kicks—when they claimed it or picked up the scraps from knock-backs. New Zealand is equally good at that.

“Their entire backline, Ardie Savea, and a few others are very quick. This was a good dry run for us (considering the challenge the Wallabies brought), but it will take another step up against the All Blacks. Australia was really good, and they’re still in the race to win the Rugby Championship.

“New Zealand won’t just pose a backline threat, they have powerful forwards too, are strong in the scrums, and they’re coached really well.”

Erasmus believes the pressure they were under in Cape Town—and the pressure from their supporters, which he calls “good pressure”—won’t be there in the away games. He says they will feel a bit lonely on tour, and hopes the intensity they felt at home will bring the team closer together as they face their toughest challenge yet.

The Boks haven’t won at Eden Park since 1937, and they’ll be on a mission to maintain their winning momentum.

Flyhalf Handré Pollard, scrumhalf Grant Williams, winger Cheslin Kolbe, and eighth man Kwagga Smith were standout starters, while locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager impressed off the bench.

The Springboks are expected to name their travelling squad on Sunday or Monday, depending on the results of medical scans.

“Even if we had won both matches against Australia, we’d still need to beat New Zealand twice if we want to win the Rugby Championship. But we’re in it after this victory.

“Overall, we’ll learn from this. But I’m happy with the win.”

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt also highlighted an area that might concern Erasmus ahead of the All Blacks clashes. His side managed to break through the Bok defence several times, but South Africa’s scramble tackling held firm, particularly in the second half.

“I think Rassie will be concerned that there was still, I believe, half a dozen line breaks. He’ll be looking back at that, coaches always do,” Schmidt said.

“It’s hard to compare today’s game with what the All Blacks will bring at Eden Park, but they’re a free-flowing side. Having said that, they scrummed and mauled Argentina into submission last week.”