South Africa’s rugby coach Rassie Erasmus expressed confidence in his team’s ability to recover from a disappointing 33-16 defeat against New Zealand in the opening test of their four-match series at Ellis Park on Saturday. The loss marked the end of the Springboks’ impressive 12-game winning streak and cost them their status as the world’s top-ranked team. Despite the setback, Erasmus drew parallels to previous comebacks, citing South Africa’s ability to win the 2021 series against the British and Irish Lions after losing the first test and their 2019 Rugby World Cup triumph despite an opening pool loss to New Zealand.
The All Blacks dominated the second half to secure their largest victory ever at the venue, executing five tries while South Africa managed only one. Erasmus acknowledged that while his team controlled parts of the match, particularly in the scrum, inconsistent execution and New Zealand’s superior overall intensity ultimately decided the outcome. The Springboks squandered multiple opportunities in the first half despite holding a narrow 13-12 lead at halftime, and a crucial penalty conceded during a scrum near the hour mark proved pivotal in turning momentum.
Looking ahead to the second test in Cape Town next weekend, Erasmus faces potential injury concerns. Winger Kurt-Lee Arendse underwent a mandatory concussion assessment after his mouthguard dislodged early in the match, making his availability uncertain. Fellow winger Cheslin Kolbe departed during the second half with suspected cramping. Despite the immediate challenges, Erasmus remained resolute about the series’ outcome, emphasizing that winning three consecutive matches would position South Africa favorably moving forward.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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