The Springboks' head coach Rassie Erasmus was not entirely satisfied despite pulling off a 30-22 win against the Wallabies in Cape Town. This result marked a crucial bounce-back in the Rugby Championship after an initial stumble against the same Australian team at Ellis Park. Standout performances included Canan Moodie, Kwagga Smith, and Eben Etzebeth scoring tries, with Handre Pollard’s kicking game on point, compensating for the missed opportunities by Wallabies' James O'Connor.
Erasmus had mixed feelings about the victory. "Probably the scoreboard," was his response when asked about the game's highlight. "We knew Australia was not to be underestimated," he added, reflecting on the deceptive ease after the initial 22 points scored in the earlier games. He noted the tension in the match, exacerbated by O'Connor's missed kicks which could have tightened the scoreline.
"After a loss, you do lose a little bit of belief. The big thing for us today was to try and win and not let them get any bonus points."
The road to defending their Rugby Championship title is still steep as the Boks need successive victories in New Zealand. "We were always going to have to go to New Zealand and beat them there twice if we were going to win the Rugby Championship," Erasmus stated, emphasizing the challenge ahead.
Following the disappointing performance in Johannesburg, Erasmus was visibly more positive in Cape Town, revealing a significant improvement in his team's scoring. "If I were asked that last week, I’d say a 2 or 3 because of the second half," he remarked. Despite the less-than-perfect game handling and challenging conditions, he acknowledged, "A win can be a six or seven out of 10; we know it was far from a perfect performance, but sometimes just getting back on the horse."
With the Rugby Championship on hold next week, Erasmus confirmed that the squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand would be announced soon, keeping fans and players on edge as they anticipate the critical matches ahead.