The Springboks got the boost they needed after a hard-fought win over the Wallabies in the second round of the Rugby Championship.
While the victory lifted spirits, coach Rassie Erasmus also had another reason to smile — the All Blacks stumbled to an unexpected defeat against Argentina, throwing the tournament wide open.
With just two points separating the top and bottom teams on the log, the competition is still anyone’s game as South Africa prepares for two massive clashes in New Zealand.
Erasmus on the State of the Championship
Speaking after the win, Erasmus emphasized how tight the tournament has become.
“The Rugby Championship is still wide open with all four teams having won a match in the first two rounds,” he explained.
“This upcoming tour is going to be crucial for us, and we’ll definitely take confidence from the win over Australia when we get on that plane.”
Facing the All Blacks on Their Turf
Erasmus knows exactly what lies ahead — a showdown with the All Blacks in their own backyard.
It’s always a monumental challenge, but he pointed out that every team in this year’s competition has already proven they can beat anyone on the day.
“In the last two months alone,” Erasmus noted, “Australia beat us at Ellis Park before losing narrowly in their British & Irish Lions Series.
Argentina just turned over New Zealand and have also beaten the Lions.
So, history doesn’t mean much in this competition. Every game is a new fight.”
Lessons Learned and Standards to Meet
The Springbok coach admitted that their opening match against Australia taught them some valuable lessons.
That experience, he said, has helped sharpen their focus for what’s to come.
“We know exactly what we need to do to reach our standards and improve as the tournament progresses,” Erasmus said.
“And honestly, we don’t need any extra motivation beyond that.”
Next Stop: Eden Park
The Springboks now shift their focus to a daunting challenge — taking on New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on 6 September.
With the log so tight and the competition unpredictable, every point will matter in the coming weeks.
