Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was quick to downplay South Africa’s fourth consecutive victory over New Zealand, emphasizing respect for the All Blacks after the Boks clinched the Freedom Cup with an 18-12 win on Saturday at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium.
In front of a sold-out crowd of 57,733, the Springboks not only won the prestigious Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009 but also maintained their unbeaten run in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Despite the significance of the victory, Erasmus chose not to dwell on the achievement. The Boks’ triumph extended their streak to four wins over New Zealand, dating back to a World Cup warm-up match in London last year. However, the Springbok coach made it clear that the team holds immense respect for their Kiwi rivals.
“We respect the All Blacks immensely as a team,” Erasmus said. “Tony Brown [Springbok assistant coach] really helped us understand the haka and the way the All Blacks think, which gave us a better perspective. It’s important to recognize what winning four consecutive games against them means, but they’ve beaten us many times and achieved so much. It’s not something to brag about, but it feels good.”
For the Springboks, this win was about more than just a winning streak. Erasmus emphasized the importance of the Freedom Cup, particularly in the context of South Africa’s current situation. The victory also boosted the Boks’ hopes of winning the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, although Erasmus admitted that there is still work to be done.
“This week, we spoke a lot about the Freedom Cup,” Erasmus said. “It means a lot for South Africa with where we are now. We wanted to win this badly for South Africa. It was also good for our hopes of winning the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, but we still have some work to do in that regard.”
The All Blacks got off to a fast start, as they did in the previous match in Johannesburg, leading 9-3 at halftime. However, the Springboks once again showed resilience, staging a second-half comeback with two tries to secure the win. Importantly, the Boks managed to keep New Zealand tryless, an achievement that highlights their defensive discipline.
Reflecting on the Boks’ slow start for the second consecutive week, Erasmus said, “I think we were too emotional when we started, but after halftime, we kept our composure and came back well.” He noted the team’s strong record of 20 wins in their last 23 games but stressed the importance of staying grounded. “It is always important to stay in reality and keep working hard.”
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who played despite a broken nose, echoed Erasmus’ sentiments about the Freedom Cup and the significance of the victory. Kolisi admitted the emotional weight of the match, stressing how much it meant for the team.
“We all wanted it—the win and the Freedom Cup—and we knew how big it was for us as a group,” Kolisi said. “The coach showed trust in me to play, so I couldn’t go out there half-hearted.”
Kolisi described the match as the biggest challenge the Boks have faced since their Rugby World Cup campaign. “After the Rugby World Cup, this was the biggest game for us as a group, and we are really happy about this achievement.”
He also praised Erasmus for his honesty at halftime, which helped the team turn their performance around in the second half. “We didn’t start well, but the coach was honest with us at halftime, and in the second half, we did what we planned to do, and it worked out for us.”
With the Freedom Cup secured and their championship hopes still alive, the Springboks will now shift focus to their upcoming fixtures. They will enjoy a short break before resuming preparations for their next Test against Argentina, which will take place in two weeks.
The victory over New Zealand may not have been something to brag about, as Erasmus humbly noted, but it certainly underscored the Springboks’ status as one of the world’s top rugby sides—built on a foundation of respect, determination, and collective effort.
Source: SA Rugby
