South Africa may be the newly crowned Rugby Championship kings, but head coach Rassie Erasmus offered a typically blunt assessment of his team’s performance, admitting that in some aspects, they were “not a great deal better” than in their error-strewn opening match. The victory, while historic, was far from perfect.
The Springboks’ scrum was the saving grace in a performance that was otherwise patchy. Their dominance in the set piece was absolute and papered over cracks that appeared elsewhere, particularly in the first half when they fell behind 13-3 due to their own indiscipline and Argentina’s sharp attack.
Erasmus’s critique reflects the high standards he sets for the world’s number one team. Despite securing their first-ever back-to-back titles, he recognized that his side rode their luck, benefiting from a marginal red card decision and a supportive crowd at a neutral venue.
This honest appraisal highlights the champion’s mindset: always seeking improvement, even in victory. While the forward pack was immense, with Malcolm Marx in destructive form, the overall performance lacked the clinical edge seen in their record-breaking win in Wellington earlier in the tournament.
Ultimately, the result is what matters, and the Springboks are deserved champions. They found a way to win when not at their best, a hallmark of a great team. However, Erasmus’s comments serve as a reminder that even in triumph, the quest for perfection continues.