Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus wore a satisfied smile after his team had smashed Argentina 48-7 to claim the Rugby Championship – but he warned that the South Africans still have plenty of room for improvement.
The Boks scored seven tries to one in overturning their defeat the previous week to the same team, with the forwards rampant in providing the backs with quick, clean ball at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday night.
“It was a gutsy performance and I was happy with the effort, and I think there were brilliant plays at stages, but it wasn’t perfect,” Erasmus said.
“Look, it was a good performance, but not spectacular. I’m satisfied that we have put some good things in place. Now we must build on it.”
The coaching staff would have been pleased with the Boks’ ambitions to create space out wide.
The wings were industriously employed, especially Cheslin Kolbe, who had an endless stream of possession out on the right wing.
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“We showed good intent,” Erasmus agreed. “Argentina are a very physical side, they are nippy with ball in hand and love to attack.
“(Defence coach) Jerry (Flannery) was very nervous during the week after they scored four tries against us in Argentina, so keeping them to one score was great.
“It was a much better performance than in Argentina,” Erasmus admitted. “Overall, I’m very happy for Manie (Libbok) and South Africa. But the end-of-year tour is now our target and going through that undefeated.”
Looking back at a Rugby Championship in which the Boks won five of their six matches, Erasmus said he was pleased with the progress made.
“The pressure has been on the players to gel quickly, and I must give credit to the coaching staff and all the backroom team, and the guys for keeping on believing despite all the changes,” he said.
“We’ve used 49 players this year and 35 in the Rugby Championship.
“But when you get to these crunch games, it’s the older and calmer heads that pull it through, and they help pull through a guy like Manie (who was under enormous pressure after missing a match-winning penalty in Santiago del Estero).
“The senior guys understand the bigger picture and then things like this happen, where all of us are privileged to sit with Eben (Etzebeth) today and with the Championship trophy.”
Etzebeth, sitting next to his coach at the media conference, said he was thrilled with the victory after breaking Victor Matfield’s SA caps record in his 128th Test.
“The milestone wouldn’t have been nice if we’d lost this game, so the team really showed up tonight,” he said.
“The Rugby Championship was on the line; it was a final tonight, and we all wanted to win that trophy.
“The guys wanted to make it special for me, but it will always be a team sport. The trophy was the big thing, and we’ll celebrate it very nicely tonight. It was an unbelievable performance from everyone.”
Etzebeth said he would not have reached 128 caps without the support of the core of players who have been with him through thick and thin.
“There are guys I have been with at three World Cups, won two World Cups, guys like Siya, Jesse, Handré, Frans, Willie, Damian … I’m leaving a few out, but I wouldn’t have reached this milestone without those players.”
The million-dollar question is how much longer the 32-year-old will continue with the Boks. He surely would like a crack at winning three World Cups in a row, but there is a long road to Australia 2027.
“It’s about staying fit and pushing the body as far as it can go,” Etzebeth said.
“I’ve made no secret (of the fact) that the reason I play this game is for this team; to perform for my club and to be selected for the national side – that’s the ultimate.
“So, I’ll keep pushing, training hard and performing for my club and hopefully the coaches will keep on selecting me.
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“I never like to share my goals with the public – I like to keep it close to my heart – and I’ll push on and if the body’s good, I’ll continue to go.”
Some of the players will return to their franchises and others will rest before the end-of-year tour to the UK, where the Boks will face Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday, November 10, England six days later at Twickenham and Wales in Cardiff on November 23.
Points-Scorers
Springboks 48 – Tries: Aphelele Fassi (2), Pieter-Steph du Toit (2), Cheslin Kolbe, Malcolm Marx, Jesse Kriel. Conversions: Handré Pollard (3), Jaden Hendrikse (2). Penalty: Hendrikse (1).
Argentina 7 – Try: Tomas Albornoz. Conversion: Albornoz (1).