Boks to ‘eat humble pie’ and go back to drawing board before Nations Championship

Rassie Erasmus, head coach of the Springboks, admitted that his team would need to "eat humble pie" and return to the drawing board after a 42-38 loss to the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday. The defeat revealed a significant flaw in the Springboks' strategy, as they were unable to handle the Wallabies' challenging style, which was unfamiliar to the South African squad.

Erasmus noted that the Springboks should not have allowed themselves to be down 42-17 before the final 10 minutes of the match, a position they found themselves in due to ill-discipline and errors from their own team. The coach praised Les Kiss, the Wallabies' coach, for bringing valuable experience to the team, particularly in handling a fast-paced, goal-oriented style of play that the Springboks had not fully prepared for.

Erasmus highlighted the Wallabies' expertise in lineouts, defense, and the breakdown, all areas where the Springboks struggled. Despite conceding an early lead, Erasmus believed his team had successfully neutralized the Wallabies' superior technical abilities in these areas. Looking ahead to the Nations Championship round in November, which will feature South Africa facing Italy, France, and Ireland, Erasmus acknowledged that the World Cup hosts were a formidable challenge due to their physicality and technical sharpness.