Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Andre Esterhuizen were frank in their assessment about the team’s disappointing defeat in a hard grind against the Wallabies at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, and accepted full blame for the result.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Andre Esterhuizen were frank in their assessment about the team’s disappointing defeat in a hard grind against the Wallabies at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, and accepted full blame for the result.
The Springboks and Flying Fijians will complete their preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup with a final Test at polytec Stadium in Gosford, north of Sydney - to be known as the Contest on the Coast on Saturday, 18 September 2027.
The Springboks arrived in Australia from the USA on Wednesday morning local time (late Tuesday night SA time) following their series victory in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, presented by the Castle Double Malt, gearing up for another massive challenge, with Bok coach Rassie Erasmus saying they were ready to begin their preparations for their one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth.
“On behalf of SA Rugby, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Rassie Erasmus, Siya Kolisi and the entire Springbok team on winning the inaugural Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry,” said SARU President, Mr Mark Alexander.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus reiterated the team’s motivation in the wake of a 43-28 victory over New Zealand to claim the inaugural Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry title in Baltimore.
As we conclude the inaugural edition of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry on home soil, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to every South African who supported this world class series.
A delighted Rassie Erasmus shrugged off suggestions that his team had clinched a series victory over New Zealand following Saturday’s win at the FNB Stadium in Soweto.
Rassie Erasmus warned that the Springboks would have to improve for the third Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test in Johannesburg on Saturday despite a 33-26 victory (halftime 24-14) over New Zealand to level the series 1-1 at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Siya Kolisi made it clear on Friday that the Boks would do everything in their power to make up for their defeat in the opening Test of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks when they cross paths again in Cape Town on Saturday in the second of four matches between the sides.
Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu have been drafted into the starting lineup for the second Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday, while Manie Libbok will serve as the back-up flyhalf on the replacements bench.