Erasmus: It’s a nervy week for both teams

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said on Monday that the challenge of facing New Zealand at Eden Park – where South Africa last beat the hosts in 1937 and the All Blacks have not lost since 1994 – made it a “nervy” yet special week for both teams.

Erasmus also shot down suggestions that this was the biggest match for both teams since the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final in France, which the Boks won 12-11, saying it would be a “slap in the face” to the other teams participating in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

South Africa and New Zealand will meet at the iconic stadium at 9.05am (SA time) on Saturday in the third round of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, and the Bok coach was open about the fact that the match would be crucial in both teams’ hopes of clinching the title, which the Boks won for the first time since 2019 last season.

“Facing New Zealand away from home is always a challenge and playing at Eden Park will make both teams equally desperate,” said Erasmus.

“There’s no doubt the players will throw everything out there on Saturday. There is a massive rivalry between the sides and the history between us is tremendous.”

Erasmus added: “Playing against New Zealand in their backyard, and knowing that according to the world rankings, we are currently the top two teams in the world, is special and we don’t need more motivation than that.

“It’s going to be a nervy week for both teams.”

Asked about the match-up being the biggest for the teams since the RWC Final, Erasmus said: “It would be a slap in the face to Australia and Argentina for us to say this is the biggest game since then.

“Just as that Final was a must-win game, both teams are in a similar situation this week and next week with an eye on trying to win the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

“One must also not forget that they got a red card in the World Cup Final and we were shown two yellow cards.”

The Bok coach shot down the hype surrounding playing at Eden Park: “People are making a big deal of the Eden Park record and, of course, it adds pressure for both teams. But if one looks back a few weeks ago, we lost against Australia at Ellis Park and it’s now history. For us, it’s a huge honour to get the chance to play at Eden Park and it’s a great opportunity for us.”

Commenting on the decision to name his team on Thursday as opposed to Tuesday, Erasmus said there were a few contributing factors to the call.

“It’s a tough match for both sides and they are a team that analyse thoroughly,” he said.

“Over and above that, we are not sure what team they’ll announce, while we also have a few injured players at home and one or two who are not available for selection this week, so there’s a bit of an unknown factor for us both. By announcing our team later in the week, we believe it will even things out more.”

The Bok coach also took the opportunity to correct the speculation that scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was called up to the squad as cover for hooker Bongi Mbonambi.

“Faf did not replace Bongi,” he said. “Morne van den Berg suffered a niggle at training but he trained fully today, so he’s looking good. Faf was called up as a precaution. He is an experienced player and brings a lot to the team.

“In Bongi’s case, there’s an illness in his family and he’ll join us as quickly as he can but we have sufficient cover in that position with Malcom (Marx), Marnus (van der Merwe) and Jan-Hendrik (Wessels), who can also cover prop.”

Away from the Bok camp, Erasmus congratulated the Springbok Women for making history by qualifying for the Rugby World Cup quarter-final for the first time in history following their 29-24 victory against Italy on Sunday.

“I woke up at 2.30 in the morning (in New Zealand) to watch the match and I’d like to congratulate Swys (de Bruin) and his team for what they achieved and also SA Rugby for everything they are doing for women’s rugby. We are immensely proud of them and we wish them luck as they continue their campaign,” he said.

Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship Tests against New Zealand

Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Backs: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).

Fixtures

6 September: New Zealand v SA – Eden Park, Auckland (9.05am)

13 September: New Zealand v SA – Sky Stadium, Wellington (9.05am)