Rassie's Boks are too inconsistent
REACTION: South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus doffed his cap to Wales after the Springboks went down 11-20 in Cardiff on Saturday.
The South Africans now return home from their month-long tour of the Northern Hemisphere with two wins and two losses, following wins over France and Scotland and a one-point defeat to England at the beginning of the tour.
Erasmus said Wales were the better team and thoroughly deserving of the win.
“The scoreboard was a really good reflection of the game,” said Erasmus.
“Wales are number three in the world and they showed it today. The Welsh were totally in sync, aligned tactically and technically… On the day they were just better.
“We would have loved to end the tour with a win,” the former Bok flank said.
“But we struggled to get into their half and when we got there once or twice… there were a few things we did wrong.
“I guess the positive is that if we did all those bad things and we’re still in with a chance, six points down on 71 minutes.”
Erasmus highlighted inconsistency as his team’s weakness, saying that would only improve with experience and marking himself as five-out-of-10.
“We’ve played 14 and won seven, that’s a 50 percent win ratio and that’s the only thing that counts where I live,” he said of his record since taking over in March this year.
“We’ve shown on the day when everything’s aligned and the guys are all in the same frame of mind, we can beat the All Blacks away and win a series against England.”
Erasmus said his team fell short in a number of areas in Cardiff.
“Today [Saturday] was perhaps the first time that I felt we were outplayed after we were always in with a chance in all our other games,” was the forthright assessment of Erasmus.
“They came with no surprises and we knew exactly what they were going to do, but I felt we didn’t adjust our plan like we should have. Wales were good with their kicking game and solid in defence and although we created opportunities our finishing and discipline let us down.”
Siya Kolisi, the Springbok captain, said Wales showed why they have won eight in a row before Saturday’s Test and also why they are currently number three on the world rankings.
“All of us knew that this was going to be our most difficult match of the tour and they made it tough for us,” said Kolisi.
“They were smart each time we got into their half and we let ourselves down with ill-discipline by giving away penalties, which allowed them to exit from their half. All credit to Wales because they had a great plan it worked out well for them.”
According to Kolisi, it is tough to look for positives after such a defeat, but he did mention he is happy with the overall growth of the team.
“We are making progress and although we are nowhere near where we want to be, we are heading in the right direction,” said Kolisi.
“However, we have to become more consistent because you cannot win two or three matches and then lose the next few – you have to pitch up for every Test and that’s what we will have to strive for.”
Several Springboks will stay behind to play for the Barbarians next week in London against Argentina, while the Baabaas will also be coached by Erasmus.
AFP & @rugby365com
