After a commanding 33-7 victory over Australia in Brisbane, the Springboks are bracing for a tougher challenge as they head to Perth for the second Test in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Despite the satisfaction of securing their first win in Brisbane since 2013, the South African team knows that the upcoming match at Optus Stadium will require a renewed focus and strategy.
The triumph in Brisbane was a historic one, marking only the Springboks’ second win in the city since the advent of professional rugby nearly 30 years ago.
However, the team is fully aware that Saturday’s clash in Perth will be “a different kettle of fish altogether,” as they look to maintain momentum in the championship.
Young flyhalf Sacha-Feinberg Mngomezulu, who earned his first Test start alongside No. 8 Elrigh Louw, played a crucial role in the victory. Despite his impressive performance, Mngomezulu remained grounded, emphasizing the need to stay focused ahead of the next game.
“It felt amazing to get that win, and I’m really happy that the guys could pull it together,” Mngomezulu said. “There was a lot of talk around the curse of Suncorp, so to come here and have a good training week and execute things well on the day was great. I’m glad we achieved that, but it’s now behind us, and we have to go again next week.”
The 21-year-old utility back credited the senior players in the squad, many of whom are double Rugby World Cup winners, for helping him stay calm under pressure. “It comes naturally, and to have double Rugby World Cup-winning champions around me helps because they bring a sense of comfort and security. I feel so at home here (in the Bok team) and it allows me to be myself on the field,” he said.
Mngomezulu’s rapid rise to prominence this season has captivated Springbok supporters, and the young player hopes that this is just the beginning of a long and successful journey in the green and gold. “It’s my crown year, so I definitely believe crown years are special. It’s really been an awesome year,” he said. “To rub shoulders with my heroes and make the step-up to where they are now my teammates is a dream come true. And hopefully this is just a building block for the future.”
Another key player in the Brisbane victory was Salmaan Moerat, who was drafted into the matchday squad as a late replacement due to injuries to RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje. Moerat, who earned his eighth Test cap in the clash, acknowledged the significance of the win but stressed the importance of focusing on the upcoming challenge in Perth.
“It takes a proper team effort to get a result like that, and everyone made a contribution during the match,” said Moerat. “Defensively we were really desperate, and the scoreline showed that. It was a special win for us, but it’s now back to the drawing board because we have another big match coming up in Perth.”
Moerat, who captained the Springboks against Portugal last month, recognized the impact of Australia’s head coach, Joe Schmidt, and the challenge the Wallabies will pose in the second Test. “Joe Schmidt has brought a completely new dimension to the squad, so we have to go back and make new plans on Monday because it’s going to be another good spectacle next week.”
Despite being a late addition to the matchday squad, Moerat expressed gratitude for every opportunity to represent South Africa. “It was unfortunate injuries to RG and Ruan, so I got the call at the last minute, but I’m very grateful for the opportunity to play – it’s really special to represent the country no matter what (the circumstances are).”
The Springboks made the trip from Brisbane to Perth on Sunday, with preparations for the next match set to begin on Monday. Head coach Rassie Erasmus will announce the matchday squad on Tuesday, as the Springboks aim to continue their strong start in the Rugby Championship.
Source: SA Rugby
