Rassie Erasmus Reflects on Springboks’ Dominant Win Over Wales, Discusses Discipline Issues
In his return as the Springboks’ head coach, Rassie Erasmus led his team to an impressive 41-13 victory over Wales at Twickenham. The South African rugby union side showcased their dominance, with tries scored by Jesse Kriel, Makazole Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi, and Edwill van der Merwe, along with a penalty try.
However, Erasmus rued the ill-discipline of his team, as the Springboks conceded 11 penalties and could have had two players sin-binned. Discussing the incidents, the coach acknowledged that fullback Aphelele Fassi was “a little bit reckless” in his challenge that resulted in a yellow card, but Erasmus felt the decision was harsh.
“Overall, I think we conceded around 13 penalties, and Jaco Peyper took us through them all this morning, and there were seven or eight that were avoidable that weren’t accidents but were stupidity, so overall, I’m happy,” Erasmus said.
Regarding Mbonambi’s tackle on Wales prop Gareth Thomas, Erasmus admitted that the Bok hooker was “definitely lucky not to get a yellow card.” The coach explained that while the tackle was deemed “careless,” the players were “very bent,” leading to the decision of just a penalty against Mbonambi.
The Springboks now shift their focus to their upcoming home Test matches against Ireland, followed by a one-off clash with Portugal before the Rugby Championship begins.
As the Springboks continue their journey, Erasmus will look to address the discipline issues within the team, while building on their dominant performance against Wales.
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