Rassie Erasmus: ‘Springbok defeat was largely due to my mistakes’

The Springboks started the four-Test series against New Zealand by slumping to a humbling defeat at Ellis Park in a game that saw Rassie Erasmus battle to find any solutions during a second half in which his side was thoroughly outplayed.

In the lead up to the first match, there were already some warning signs when Erasmus opted to go against his usual strategy of naming the team at the start of the week, while certain selections and substitutions also backfired.

To his credit, Erasmus has taken accountability, insisting him and the coaching staff had to take the defeat on the chin.

“We didn’t get what we wanted from the bench, because the guys who started didn’t convert … our plans didn’t work, and that’s on me,” he said.

“They, and I’m including the coaches there, didn’t give those guys the platform to actually go on and finish those things. They had to chase the game.”

Rassie Erasmus insists the Springboks will be better this weekend

The Springbok coaches have made several changes to the matchday 23 for the second Test in Cape Town this Saturday, and Erasmus said there was a far clearer focus this week.

“I do think the scoreboard doesn’t 100% reflect it (how we played in the first Test). We had stages where I felt we were dominant … but it’s true, we didn’t convert those opportunities,” he said.

“Most of the things we inflicted on ourselves, and that’s frustrating. We are irritated with each other inside the camp.

“Because, yes, they are a very good team and No 1 in the world now, and we know that we are the team that is chasing them to try and get the No 1 spot back again.”

Back to basics

There is no doubt that the Springboks will be boosted by the return of Siya Kolisi, who will bring leadership, experience and presence to proceedings.

“Siya will be starting and he will captain the team,” Erasmus told the media on Tuesday.

“When we reviewed the game on Monday, we felt we were very dominant throughout up until about the 60-minute mark, and we were just a bit inaccurate in a few departments.

“That’s what this week is for. Luckily in this competition we’ve still got three chances to keep going and get our game better.

“A lot of the things we asked the players to do, they did. The plan didn’t win the game for us, but it’s definitely also not the players who lost the game.

“I’m taking responsibility for some of the decisions we made. We’re a group, but I think it’s a relevant point to explain why we lost, and some of it falls more on me than on the players to be honest.”