Rassie Erasmus’s updated record in charge of the Springboks

Rassie Erasmus has led the Springboks to an emphatic 3-1 victory over the All Blacks in ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ which culminated in Baltimore in the United States on Saturday evening.

New Zealand had taken a 1-0 lead after their 33-16 win at Ellis Park, but subsequent 33-26 (Cape Town Stadium) and 29-24 (FNB Stadium) victories had seen South Africa take a 2-1 lead into the final clash in Maryland.

First United States Test

The Springboks proved far too strong for the All Blacks in what was their first ever meeting on American soil, with a resounding 43-28 victory which flattered New Zealand.

Erasmus has now been in charge of the Springboks for a record 61 Tests.

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %
61	47	1	13	77%

In terms of his record against New Zealand, Erasmus also boasts a ‘winning’ record, albeit lower than his overall average.

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %
12	7	1	4	58.3%

Meanwhile, in terms of his overall win percentage, Erasmus has moved into fourth place for Springbok coaches behind Kitch Christie (100%: 14 wins from 14 Tests), Cecil Moss (83.3%: 10 wins from 12 Tests) and Nelie Smith (80%: 12 wins from 15 Tests).

What drives the Springboks?

Rassie Erasmus has revealed that the team’s biggest motivation remains making South Africans proud after their victory over New Zealand in Baltimore.

More than 68 000 fans attended the match, with a large contingent of South African supporters creating a home-like atmosphere in Baltimore.

“It was awesome to see so many South Africans here. I don’t know how they afford it or how they got here, but it’s great,” Erasmus said.

However, he stressed that the Springboks also play for those who could not make the trip.

“We appreciate the people who were here, but we don’t forget the people who were at home; the people on the farm or the boy in the township or the people in the shopping mall. That’s what drives us.”

‘Want to bring happiness’

Erasmus said winning is important, but ultimately the team wants to bring happiness to South Africans.

“Obviously we want to win, but we want them to be happy,” he added.

The Springboks, the world’s No 1-ranked team and back-to-back world champions, scored six tries to four against the All Blacks.

Despite the final 15-point margin, Erasmus insisted the contest was far closer than the score suggested.

“I wouldn’t say we were the better team today,” he said, noting that the match was still in the balance after 60 minutes.

Prayer

After the final whistle, the two teams came together in prayer.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said the moment reflected the mutual respect between the rivals.

“We go hard on the field, but we get along off the field,” Kolisi said.

The Springboks now turn their attention to the remainder of the international season, with Erasmus again emphasising that South Africa remains at the heart of everything they do.

Where does Rassie Erasmus rank in your mind among all Springbok coaches?