Rassie: Springboks proud to have been part of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalr…

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus said they would have been proud to be part of the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series even if they hadn’t won it. tr-sport.click

The Boks clinched the series 3-1 with a 43-28 win in the final game against the All Blacks in Baltimore on Saturday.

It was South Africa’s third consecutive victory over the New Zealanders, after bouncing back from a 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park – which broke their 12-Test winning streak – with a 33-26 win in Cape Town and a 29-24 victory in Soweto.

The Boks dominated all areas of play but only led 17-14 at the break. But instead of falling short as they did from a similar position in the second half in Johannesburg, the Springboks scored two early second-half tries and maintained their momentum, ultimately winning six tries to four.

Arendse changed the game

Erasmus said Kurt-Lee Arendse’s individual effort, when he picked up a loose ball in his own half and ran through defenders to the All Blacks’ try line, was probably the moment when the Boks stretched the gap over their opponents.

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“Kurt-Lee started burning guys,” the coach said after his 100th match in charge of the Springboks.

“Kurt-Lee himself admitted he had been going through a mental and physical dip. He had concussions and stuff. I thought when he scored that try it was pivotal. Until then it was anyone’s game.”

The All Blacks trailed 43-21 for the final 15 minutes before their consolation try. Still, Erasmus said the difference between the sides was not as great as the scoreboard showed.

Springboks proud to be part of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry

The coach also spoke of the value of the first proper tour between the two greatest rugby nations since New Zealand won 2-1 in South Africa 30 years ago, in 1996.

“I grew up in the era when there wasn’t [Springbok] rugby, and we only watched New Zealand and the [Boland] Cavaliers tour and the flower-bomb Test [in 1981]. My heroes were [former All Black No 8] Murray Mexted, those kind of guys.

“When this came up on the radar we said we would support it.”

Erasmus said every week had intrigue on and off the field, with the media and public arguing about the legality of scrums, making the series all the more interesting.

“I think it’s great for the game,” he said, adding that even if they lost the decider and it ended up being a 2-2 tie, the series was a success.

“New Zealand were getting into communities in South Africa. South African New Zealand supporters got to see their heroes in the flesh. And then they produced.

“We are proud to be part of this. Not necessarily because we won. One day when we are old we’ll say we played in 2026, in that first tour when the Greatest Rivalry started. So, massive privilege, massive respect for both sides. I like it.”

The Wallabies have handed an uncapped flyhalf a surprise opportunity against the Springboks for their one-off Test later this month.

Western Force pivot Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has been called up by coach Les Kiss to replace Carter Gordon, who suffered a fractured leg against Argentina earlier this month.

Meanwhile, outside back Jordan Petaia returns to the Wallabies squad for the first time since 2023 after an unsuccessful American football stint attempting to break into the NFL.

Australia will host the world champions in Perth on Sunday, 27 September before facing the All Blacks in two Tests.

The Wallabies are building towards the 2027 World Cup on home soil, with Kiss admitting there is still plenty of work to do.

“We’ve learned a bit more about ourselves as a group over the last four Tests and we know we still have a lot to work on to get to where we want to be,” said Kiss.

“South Africa have been the benchmark team in world rugby for a long time and we’re motivated by the challenge of meeting them in our own backyard in two weeks’ time.”

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Wallabies squad
Backs: Jock Campbell, Ben Donaldson, Isaac Henry, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Declan Meredith, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Harry Potter, Joseph Suaalii, Kalani Thomas, Tom Wright.
Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Charlie Cale, Josh Canham, Tom Hooper, Isaac Kailea, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Lachlan Shaw, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson.

– AFP

Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

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Damian Willemse says the Springboks can take plenty of positives and confidence from the team’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series win into the remainder of 2026.

Rassie Erasmus’ troops beat the All Blacks 43-28 in Baltimore on Saturday to clinch the series 3-1 and confirmed the world No 1 status of the back-to-back world champions.

Willemse hailed South Africa’s victory – the highest winning margin of the series – after the men in green and gold took a 17-14 lead into the break at the M&T Bank Stadium.

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“We expected a tough game against New Zealand; being 2-1 down, they wanted to fire us up and draw this series,” the 28-year-old said.

“How we reacted after half-time when they scored that try, we stuck to our guns, made plans. I’m proud of everyone in the team.

“We’re super stoked and happy with the series win. This really means a lot to all of us.”

Willemse, who slotted in at fullback for the injured Cheslin Kolbe after missing the third Test with a hamstring problem, emphasised how the South Africans regrouped following their series-opening defeat at Ellis Park.

“After the first Test, taking that loss, there were parts of our game that we had to work on,” he added.

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“We got momentum and opportunities which we didn’t finish and as the series went along, we got better.

“The attack wasn’t really there; the breakdown was a bit of a shambles … certain areas of our game that we had to work hard on.

“Credit to the coaching staff and how they came up with plans and solutions and got us going again and gave us belief.

“For a lot of the guys, this is the first big series for them. We’ll take a lot of positives and confidence from this and we’ll just keep on growing and building our game.”

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Willemse now adds a Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry winner’s medal to his World Cup, Rugby Championship and British & Irish Lions series collection.

“Whenever you run out to represent the Springboks and you’ve got the Springbok in your heart, you want to go out there and make everyone proud.

“This doesn’t only belong to us, it belongs to South Africa as well.”

The Boks now have a week’s break before a one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday, 27 September.

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images

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