As they gear up to face the Springboks, new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has expressed his admiration for the way Rassie Erasmus’ mind works, calling it “pretty special.”
The Springboks, currently leading the Rugby Championship standings, are set to face a formidable challenge with back-to-back Tests against the All Blacks. The first match will take place in Johannesburg next weekend, followed by a rematch in Cape Town in early September.
Looking ahead to these highly anticipated clashes, Robertson shared his deep respect for Erasmus and the Springboks’ approach to the game.
“South Africa has a clear DNA,” Robertson said, analyzing his next opponents. “They’ve been innovative and have evolved impressively in recent games, which makes it exciting. Watching Test rugby, you can see how [Erasmus’] mind works—it’s something special. They’ve got a great group, so these are going to be great Test matches.”
This will be only the third time the All Blacks have toured South Africa since Erasmus took charge of the Boks in 2018, and Robertson acknowledged the unique challenges that come with facing them.
“They’re just a different challenge,” Robertson continued. “They’re set-piece oriented, but they can also put you under pressure in various ways, like through strategic kicking battles. It’s quite different from playing in Lautoka [in Fiji] or at Suncorp.
“Playing on the Highveld, dealing with those conditions, it’s all part of the challenge. You miss it when you’re not there, but it’s an exciting one.”
The Springboks are also preparing for a tough battle against the All Blacks. Erasmus is well aware of the formidable opposition, especially after New Zealand’s 42-10 victory over Argentina following the Pumas’ surprising win in Wellington during the opening round of the Rugby Championship.
“We saw how New Zealand turned things around after last week’s result, so we know the challenge that awaits us—it will certainly require us to step up again,” said Erasmus.
“With all due respect to Australia, they are in a rebuilding phase, and Joe Schmidt is also still finding his footing, so the next two Tests will be tougher.
“We’re facing them at altitude in Johannesburg and then in Cape Town, where they enjoy playing, so we’re excited about what will feel like a mini-series against them.”
