Rassie says Boks might be a little ‘punch-drunk’ going into Wallabies Test
The Bok coach though said he would do his best to mix and match to put out a 'fresh-ish' team for the match in Perth.
Rassie Erasmus, the Boks coach, acknowledges that his players may be a bit fatigued following their demanding four-Test series against the All Blacks. However, he believes they still have enough energy left for another intense performance against the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday. The South African team arrived in Sydney last week, having triumphed in the final Test of their historic rivalry series in Baltimore, USA, as well as victories in Soweto and Cape Town.
A loss in the first Test at Ellis Park marked the beginning of their series. Erasmus decided to rest his team in Terrigal, a suburb north of Sydney, for most of the week before heading to Perth. The match is set to commence at 11.45am. Erasmus approaches the Wallabies Test with utmost seriousness, particularly after the All Blacks upset the Boks 38-22 at Ellis Park the previous season, where the home team had been 22-0 up.
Historically, the Boks have had a tough time defeating the Wallabies. Erasmus stated, "Anybody who plays four games against New Zealand will be a little bit punch-drunk at the end." He plans to rotate players to maintain a fresh team but recognizes the importance of experience. Erasmus highlighted last year's shocking defeat by the Wallabies at Ellis Park, played at altitude, and attributed their earlier victory in Cape Town to a lack of arrogance.
He emphasized how difficult it is to predict the Australians' playing style, citing their unpredictability as a challenge. Erasmus expressed immense respect for the Wallabies, acknowledging their remarkable track record and the struggles the Boks have faced against them.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
