Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is not known for emotion, yet the prospect of an All Blacks series on home soil has stirred him. The first Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry takes place at Ellis Park on Saturday and carries clear significance for both sides.
Erasmus has coached against New Zealand eight times in his 57 games in charge and played them five times in 37 Tests. He has long treated such matches as contests rather than occasions that inflame supporters. The 1996 series, won by Sean Fitzpatrick’s “Incomparables,” remains the last time the All Blacks claimed a Test series in South Africa. Erasmus was then a young flanker with the Cheetahs, a year away from his Test debut.
Erasmus reflects on the rivalry
Erasmus said the All Blacks forced their way into people’s reckoning through consistent performance and earned respect.
“You treasure these games and you want to remember them, along with the build-up,”
he said.
He recalled a period when South African players admired the All Blacks’ unity, black boots and haka while their own side wore multi-coloured boots. At one stage New Zealand held an 85 percent winning record. Erasmus noted that the Springboks later studied that success, copied elements of it, and understood that beating New Zealand in New Zealand would force others to take notice.
“We’re not afraid of New Zealand and they’re not afraid of us, but they’ve been the most consistent side,”
Erasmus said.
Recent form and coaching changes
Since the 2022 Ellis Park Test that New Zealand won 35-23, South Africa has taken five of the last seven encounters. That level of dominance is rare. The All Blacks also changed coaches mid-World Cup cycle for the first time since 2001 when Scott “Razor” Robertson made way for Dave Rennie.
Rennie, who previously coached the Chiefs in Super Rugby and the Wallabies, described the Springbok challenge as one the tourists have fully embraced.
“It is such a big challenge,”
he said.
“We’re working very hard, but we’re also connecting very well… It’s one of the toughest challenges in world rugby and we’re willing to embrace it.”
Erasmus has observed a shift under Rennie’s six games in charge: sustained pace and intensity. New Zealand arrive after three provincial matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls, while the Springboks faced less physical tests against Scotland and Wales in the Nations Championship before a hard contest against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Erasmus pointed to statistics showing the All Blacks under Rennie produce roughly double the breakdowns and passes of the previous regime.
“That’s the way they want to play, in terms of running you off your feet with winning their breakdown ball very quickly. Those are things we have to counter,”
he said.
He added that both sides will try to impose their attacking styles and that the contest remains too close to call.
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