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Springboks take series lead, but coach says margin is small

From CNA · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Ongoing story
  • South Africa beat New Zealand 29-24 to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series known as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
  • Coach Rassie Erasmus said the teams remain closely matched, with New Zealand able to level the series in the final match in Baltimore.
  • South Africa will be without wing and first-choice kicker Cheslin Kolbe, who broke his jaw in the first half.

South Africa moved ahead in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, but coach Rassie Erasmus insisted the Springboks had gained only a narrow edge over New Zealand. Their 29-24 victory at Soccer City put them 2-1 ahead in the four-match series, with the All Blacks able to level it in the final match in Baltimore next weekend.

Erasmus described the game as an intense battle and said the final score reflected how little separated the teams. “I thought it was an epic game and it was intense, a fierce battle in all departments, and I think the scoreboard at the end showed how close the game was,” he told a post-match news conference. “We’re just happy we won and now we must try and replicate that in Baltimore.”

I thought it was an epic game and it was intense, a fierce battle in all departments, and I think the scoreboard at the end showed how close the game was.

· Rassie ErasmusThe South Africa coach described the closeness and intensity of the second successive win over New Zealand.

South Africa’s forward power again proved decisive, as it had in the previous test in Cape Town, but New Zealand kept the world champions under pressure. Erasmus praised the All Blacks’ handling and said their style was difficult to defend. “We were certainly nervous and I think they were nervous too,” he said.

We’re just happy we won and now we must try and replicate that in Baltimore.

· Rassie ErasmusErasmus looked ahead to the final match, where New Zealand can level the series.

The coach rejected the idea that South Africa had dominated the scrum. “I don’t think we were dominant at scrum time today. I think it was pretty even and it could easily have gone against us,” he said. He added that the Springboks had faced real pressure in some scrums and were relieved when New Zealand moved the ball instead of forcing another set piece.

South Africa will travel to the United States without Cheslin Kolbe, a speedy wing and the team’s first-choice kicker, after he broke his jaw in the first half. The series has been portrayed as a contest between South African strength and New Zealand pace and ball skills, but Erasmus said the set-piece battle had also remained close.

I don’t think we were dominant at scrum time today. I think it was pretty even and it could easily have gone against us.

· Rassie ErasmusThe coach disputed the idea that South Africa had decisively won the scrum battle.
About this summary

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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