On a gritty Saturday at Twickenham, Rassie Erasmus' Springboks scraped and clawed their way to Rugby Championship glory, not just once but for the second consecutive year. Trailing 13-3 against the formidable Pumas before the break, the Boks staged a thrilling comeback to edge out a 29-27 victory, nudging past the All Blacks in points and making a little more history for themselves in the process.
Rassie Erasmus, visibly relieved yet critical of his team's performance, shared, "I'm satisfied with the result and winning the Rugby Championship back-to-back. This was a massive game for us, and although it was far from perfect, I'd rather see us learning while winning than the alternative." He added a cautious note about the road ahead, "We are still well-placed for the World Cup draw, but with five tough matches coming up on the end-of-year tour, we have our work cut out for us."
"But our guys showed massive fight – they can really take things to the gutters."
The Boks' resilience was not lost on Captain Siya Kolisi, who underscored the halftime focus, "It was simple. We needed to play with more unity, make fewer mistakes, and concede fewer penalties. We knew Argentina would come out fighting, so we had to keep going until the end." His praise for the coach was unequivocal, "We know how to fight as a team and dig deep – that’s thanks to coach Rassie and how he’s changed the way we think."
Kolisi continued, reflecting on the team's journey, "This Rugby Championship was tough, and anyone could have won it, so to lift the trophy for the second time in a row is amazing. We’re grateful for all the support from the fans at the stadium and from our people at home."
Erasmus also tipped his hat to the opposition, acknowledging, "Argentina have beaten some tough teams this year, so we’ll celebrate tonight and take that positive into our next challenges." He praised his players' grit under pressure, hinting that the Bok forwards might be in for a celebratory round or two of beer.
As the Springboks celebrate their hard-fought victory and look toward the challenges ahead, the spirit and unity fostered by Erasmus’ leadership continue to be the team's cornerstone, with eyes now firmly set on the upcoming world stage.
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On a gritty Saturday at Twickenham, Rassie Erasmus' Springboks scraped and clawed their way to Rugby Championship glory, not just once but for the second consecutive year. Trailing 13-3 against the formidable Pumas before the break, the Boks staged a thrilling comeback to edge out a 29-27 victory, nudging past the All Blacks in points and making a little more history for themselves in the process.
Rassie Erasmus, visibly relieved yet critical of his team's performance, shared, "I'm satisfied with the result and winning the Rugby Championship back-to-back. This was a massive game for us, and although it was far from perfect, I'd rather see us learning while winning than the alternative." He added a cautious note about the road ahead, "We are still well-placed for the World Cup draw, but with five tough matches coming up on the end-of-year tour, we have our work cut out for us."
"But our guys showed massive fight – they can really take things to the gutters."
The Boks' resilience was not lost on Captain Siya Kolisi, who underscored the halftime focus, "It was simple. We needed to play with more unity, make fewer mistakes, and concede fewer penalties. We knew Argentina would come out fighting, so we had to keep going until the end." His praise for the coach was unequivocal, "We know how to fight as a team and dig deep – that’s thanks to coach Rassie and how he’s changed the way we think."
Kolisi continued, reflecting on the team's journey, "This Rugby Championship was tough, and anyone could have won it, so to lift the trophy for the second time in a row is amazing. We’re grateful for all the support from the fans at the stadium and from our people at home."
Erasmus also tipped his hat to the opposition, acknowledging, "Argentina have beaten some tough teams this year, so we’ll celebrate tonight and take that positive into our next challenges." He praised his players' grit under pressure, hinting that the Bok forwards might be in for a celebratory round or two of beer.
As the Springboks celebrate their hard-fought victory and look toward the challenges ahead, the spirit and unity fostered by Erasmus’ leadership continue to be the team's cornerstone, with eyes now firmly set on the upcoming world stage.