Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says his team has been in difficult positions before and knows exactly what is required to keep the Rugby Championship series alive against the All Blacks.
The Springboks were beaten 33-16 by New Zealand in the opening Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry in Johannesburg, conceding five tries to one.
Erasmus admitted the performance fell well short of the standard required, saying there were “a lot of things” the team needed to put right ahead of the second Test at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
“We have been in many catastrophic situations in our lives,” Erasmus said.
He pointed to the Springboks’ first-Test defeat to the British & Irish Lions in 2021, as well as their loss to New Zealand in the opening pool match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, as examples of previous setbacks the team had overcome.
The challenge is now clear: the Springboks need to win three consecutive matches if they are to win the series.
Erasmus said New Zealand deserved their advantage after producing a performance that exposed a number of weaknesses in the Springbok game.
“We were thoroughly beaten by a team that is now No 1 in the world – it’ll be nice to go into the next game as the underdogs,” he joked.
The Springbok coach highlighted the number of errors made by his side, but said many were forced by the intensity and accuracy of the All Blacks.
The Boks were still within three points at 19-16 in the 58th minute when they conceded a penalty on their own scrum feed while putting pressure on New Zealand.
Erasmus said that moment was significant, but not the sole reason for the defeat.
“We didn’t play well. Against a class team like New Zealand, if you don’t convert, they give you a proper hiding,” he said.
The Springboks now head to Cape Town knowing a victory would level the series, but they will need a significantly improved performance against a New Zealand side that has established itself as the world’s top-ranked team.
The All Blacks will first face the 10bet Lions in Johannesburg on Tuesday before the teams meet again at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The second Test is sold out, with a capacity crowd of 62,000 expected for the 17:10 kick-off.
Preparing for the biggest sporting occasion on the City’s calendar this year
The City of Cape Town says significant traffic congestion is expected in and around the CBD, Green Point and the stadium precinct, with a comprehensive transport management plan in place.
MyCiTi shuttles will operate from five locations, Civic Centre, Thibault Square, the CTICC, UCT and Bellville Velodrome, from 11:30, ahead of the stadium gates opening at 12:00.
The dedicated shuttle service will use a coned-off bus lane, while the last return shuttles from the stadium will leave at 22:30.
The City will also make 475 free parking bays available to ticketed fans at the Civic Centre on a first-come, first-served basis from 11:00.
Supporters are encouraged to arrive early and use public transport or the designated shuttle services where possible.
A dedicated e-hailing facility will operate at P14 on Green Point Main Road, between York Road and Wigtown Road.
Several road restrictions will also be in place between 06:00 and 22:30 on Saturday, including sections of Granger Boulevard, Beach Road, Fritz Sonnenberg Road, Stephan Way, Vlei Road, Fort Wynyard Street and Granger Bay Boulevard.
