In a thrilling matchup at the hallowed grounds of Twickenham, the World Champion Springboks emerged victorious over a spirited England side, prevailing 29-20 in a gritty struggle. While South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus expressed satisfaction with the hard-fought nine-point win, he stopped short of calling it a flawless performance.
“We had a good winning margin,” Erasmus admitted in his post-match reflections. “So overall it wasn’t fantastic but we are content that we could beat them today.” The mastermind behind the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup triumph acknowledged that there was room for improvement, even as his team outscored the hosts four tries to two.
Kolbe’s Dazzling Display
Central to the Springboks’ success was the electric performance of diminutive winger Cheslin Kolbe, who lit up Twickenham with a scintillating brace of tries. Erasmus was quick to praise the dynamic speedster, highlighting not just his try-scoring prowess but also his tireless work off the ball.
“I’m so nervous that I’m jinxing it, and I keep on saying he’s just a special player but it doesn’t seem to go to his head. I think that’s probably one of the most important things in the world, that stuff doesn’t get to your head.”
– Rassie Erasmus on Cheslin Kolbe
Erasmus was reluctant to heap too much individual praise on Kolbe, instead emphasizing the team’s collective effort in setting the stage for the winger’s heroics. “I think the team also helps him a lot but one can’t praise him enough. It’s not always the glamorous things that he does. There’s a lot of off the ball work that he really does well and yeah, we can just be very fortunate that we have such a good crop of winners.”
Experience and Composure Key
When asked about the key factors that allowed the Springboks to come out on top in these tight contests, Erasmus pointed to the experience and composure of his battle-hardened squad. “I definitely think it’s experience. I think with the team that we put out there has played together a lot in important games. I do think calm heads, which we weren’t always in the coaches’ box, but the players on the field pretty much were cool, calm and handled it.”
Kolisi’s Encouragement for England
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi offered words of encouragement for an England team that has now suffered five straight defeats, their worst run since 2014. Kolisi, who has experienced his own share of trials and tribulations, emphasized the importance of resilience in the face of adversity.
“You see the way they played, they made it hard for us and we had to dig deep and keep on going over and over and we’ve been through this kind of period as well. If you give up you’re never going to make it out of it. You just got to keep on going. It’s tough, it’s really tough. But it really helped us and pulled us together as a group and we have certain goals and we reach those goals and that’s what I said earlier in the week, the motivation comes from within.”
– Siya Kolisi’s message to England
For Kolisi and his Springbok teammates, the motivation to excel comes not from external factors, but from a deep-seated desire to represent their nation with pride. “We don’t look for outside motivation as we are playing for the people back in our country. It’s been special to see so many South Africans come out and support us here. So yeah, it’ll come right for them as long as they just keep on going.”
As the Springboks savor this hard-earned victory and look ahead to future challenges, Erasmus and his coaching staff will undoubtedly be analyzing every facet of their team’s performance, seeking to fine-tune their game plan and maintain their status as one of the world’s most formidable rugby powers. For England, the road ahead may be rocky, but as Kolisi wisely noted, perseverance and unity will be key to navigating the storm and emerging stronger on the other side.
