Erasmus vows Springboks can still win series after Ellis Park rout by All Blacks

Johannesburg (AP) — South Africa's coach Rassie Erasmus provided reassurance to fans, stating that the team's recent history demonstrates the possibility of winning the test series against New Zealand, even after their 33-16 loss at Ellis Park. The All Blacks' dominant performance marked the biggest win at Ellis Park in the Springboks' history, stripping the No. 1 test ranking from South Africa and ending their 12-test win streak, their longest under Erasmus.

With three more tests in their first full-scale series in 30 years, Erasmus emphasized that the team can still turn things around by winning three consecutive matches. He highlighted that recent history has shown that South Africa can overcome catastrophic situations, citing their 3-test series win against the British and Irish Lions in 2021, as well as their victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup trophy match despite losing the opening pool game.

Erasmus noted that while the All Blacks were dominant in most aspects of the game, the Springboks' dominant scrums didn't compensate for their overall performance, which was riddled with errors. He expressed disappointment in the team's lack of control throughout the match and their inability to capitalize on numerous opportunities.

Concerning injuries, Erasmus was most worried about wingers Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, with the latter suffering a concussion and being in doubt for the second test in Cape Town. Kolbe, Erasmus noted, had a strong individual performance, going goal-kicking effectively despite injuries.