Springboks rue ‘15 bad minutes’ in Eden Park loss

image: Springbok/Twitter

by Lwandiso Simanga

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted that “15 bad minutes” cost his side a historic victory against the All Blacks at Eden Park, where South Africa fell 27-20 in a hard-fought Rugby Championship clash.

New Zealand capitalised on two early Springbok errors to score quick tries, racing to a 14-point lead. Despite a strong second-half fightback, boosted by energetic substitutes, the Boks could not overturn the deficit. “We were chasing our tails in the rain,” Erasmus said. “You can’t afford to give the world’s No 1 team that kind of head start.”

While disappointed, Erasmus emphasised positives, including the team’s resilience and their continued chance of winning the Championship. He confirmed changes would be made for next week’s must-win return fixture in Wellington. “It’s not always the same players making the mistakes, but as coaches we also have to put up our hands,” he admitted.

The Eden Park hoodo  New Zealand’s 50-match unbeaten run at the ground remains intact, but Erasmus insisted it had not weighed on his team. “If we had won, we’d have spoken about the history. But credit to them, they kept their record.”

With Wellington looming, Erasmus is confident his team can rebound: “Seven days later, we have another chance to beat New Zealand and stay in the mix. We’ll be back.”