News24 | ‘Something special’: Rassie hails Kurt-Lee magic, knows Boks annoy the world

The Springboks have added another major championship title to their collection.

(Caean Couto/Getty Images)

• The current crop of Springboks have added a Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series win to their impressive list of major championships won.
• The man leading the charge, Rassie Erasmus, knows their approach and success annoy the rest of the world, but they are in it to win titles and represent South Africa.
• What has been key to the Springboks’ success has been individual brilliance in tight situations, and on Saturday, in the 43-28 win over the All Blacks, it was Kurt-Lee Arendse who came up with a clutch moment.
• For more Springboks news, please visit News24’s dedicated section.

The Springboks continue to be the envy of international rugby and the gold standard in one of the most competitive eras the sport has seen.

A comprehensive 43-28 win over the All Blacks in Baltimore on Saturday secured the Springboks a 3-1 series victory in the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

The Springboks were in knockout rugby mode in the series, from losing the first Test 33-16 at Ellis Park to gaining momentum in the battle with a 33-26 win in Cape Town and a first-ever win over the All Blacks at the FNB Stadium, beating them 29-24.

READ| ANALYSIS | Rassie’s Invincibles? Boks underline champ status with series win from 1-0 down

In the decider, the Springboks were at their very best.

They worked hard, showed their sheer strength in contact and X-factor, and most importantly, they won the big moments in the contest, something they most often do in big games.

Saturday’s game-winning play came in the 70th minute courtesy of winger Kurt-Lee Arendse. When New Zealand had momentum, chasing the game when trailing by eight points, Arendse picked up a loose ball in his own half and sliced through the field to dot down.

In an era where margins are tight, the Springboks have players who put their hands up and deliver clutch moments, and this time around it was Arendse.

“Kurt-Lee admitted he was going through a mental and physical dip with all the concussions and stuff,” said Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus.

“When he scored that try, I thought that was critical; the game was still there for the taking; it was anybody’s game.

“Sometimes a guy like Cheslin Kolbe can change it, and today the whole team did, but I thought Kurt-Lee did something special,” he said.

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The Springboks, since Erasmus took over in 2018, have won two Rugby World Cups, a British and Irish Lions series, multiple Rugby Championship titles and now a Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry crown.

Erasmus and the Boks’ brains trust have managed to ensure the squad evolves and maintains a winning rate. When teams are in transition and lose generational players, they can go through an identity crisis and fall behind; however, the Boks have a formula that works.

Whilst the world watches the Springboks dynasty in envy, Erasmus is comforted by the fact that they are winning for South Africa in this age of competitive Test rugby.

“We want to win, and it feels great for us as a team; that’s why we play rugby and we want to make South African people happy.

“Sometimes we annoy people all over the world with the way we play, our angle and what we do and how we do it, but we really care the most about South African people.

“We understand the opinions and love the banter from people around the world, but there’s only one reason we do it, for us as a team and for our country,” he said.

Following their assignment in the United States of America, the Springboks will head straight to Australia to prepare for their one-off Test with the Wallabies on 27 September.