Rugby
Springboks return home unbeaten in End-of-Year tour─── ILSE SMALBERGER 09:53 Sun, 24 Nov 2024
Erasmus was full of praise for his team, who did not give an inch in their final test of the year.
South Africa ended a highly successful Autumn Internationals Series with another win – this time over an embattled Wales side. The Springboks will return home unbeaten in their autumn tour for the first time since 2013.
The Springboks’ 45-12 victory in Cardiff on Saturday means they end the season with 11 wins from 13 tests. They only lost to Ireland and Argentina this year.
The game started quickly with locks Franco Mostert and Eben Etzebeth crossing the line within the first ten minutes. Kurt-Lee Arendse and Elrigh Louw also scored tries in the first half, with Aphelele Fassi, Gerhard Steenekamp and Man of the Match Jordan Hendrikse scoring tries for the visitors in the second half.
Wales did not go home empty-handed, with Rio Dyer and James Botham scoring consolation tries, which ensured that Wales avoided a worst-ever home defeat.
At the press conference after the match, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said that he was worried at the beginning of the season that some players would not understand his vision to build a squad of 50 players and not 25.
“But we were honest with them at the beginning of the season and they all bought into the plan, which is admirable,” he said. “Numbers are one thing, but it was more important how those players slotted in and how we did not lose a lot of momentum. I would have thought that would be the case.
Rassie Erasmus gave all the credit to the players as the #Springboks finished their UK tour with a clean sweep of victories ??#ForeverGreenForeverGold #WALvRSA
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 23, 2024
Erasmus was full of praise for his team, who did not give an inch in their final test of the year.
“I thought the effort the guys put out there – it’s an old cliché – but we are always happy when that happens. I think sometimes we must just give the players a lot of credit because sometimes they must take things on board when we’re just chopping and changing. And it’s not always easy, because it’s a Test cap.”
The Springboks will now return to their club teams as the United Rugby Championship resumes this coming weekend. They will play no Tests until July next year when South Africa will host Italy for two Test matches.
