Rassie Erasmus and Pieter-Steph du Toit — Springbok Post-match Press Conference — 4 July 2026

[0:00] Late injuries? [0:02] Yeah, evening everybody. [0:04] Yes, Ibn got a knock against his head and we gave him as much chance as possible [0:12] because we thought it was a really important game. [0:14] And then Ibn was Wednesday or Tuesday and then yesterday pulled his hamstring. [0:20] So those were the changes. [0:24] Rossi, great start to the game again and then things seem to go a little bit flat in the second quarter. [0:34] How pleased were you then with that second half? [0:36] You guys really controlled. [0:38] Yeah. [0:39] You know, we got a bit of a fright before all the time. [0:41] Really controlled things in the second half. [0:43] Yeah, no, look, we did definitely see flashbacks of last year. [0:48] And I think it's easy to say now after we won that we learned from mistakes. [0:53] But the chat was definitely halftime. [0:55] Boys, we've been here. [0:56] We know how it feels if we don't rectify things in the second half. [1:01] And certainly a lot of things like Tony and Stocker, what they said at halftime was really spot on. [1:07] And a lot of the, obviously we had to be really honest with one another halftime. [1:11] But yes, because of that experience, you look for Peter Steff probably hasn't played two games in a lot of months. [1:18] You know, Marnie plays in the B division to see how he fits into the, straight back into test match rugby. [1:24] Then obviously all the changes prior to the game. [1:27] Paul Develius and Cameron. [1:28] Cameron, you know, hasn't played this test match level before. [1:32] So, and then obviously the intensity of guys like Grant Williams who hasn't played rugby in probably three, four months. [1:41] So it's normally the biggest challenge for us after not playing together for seven months is how quickly can we get in sync. [1:47] And then our match fit the guys can be. [1:50] And a lot of the guys ticked those boxes for us, which we are happy about. [1:54] But spot on with what you said. [1:56] But luckily we had that game last year where we could rectify things during the halftime chat and then obviously during the second half. [2:04] I see how happy are you with the performance of the young guys and how happy are you with the preparation of the guys for the World Cup? [2:14] No, sometimes, you know, injuries happen and it's never nice. [2:18] I mean, if you asked me, I wouldn't, I wouldn't prescribe it for any team to lose the guys on the team photos that left and the right of me, [2:27] which are the most caps in the team or the captain and the most caps in the team to lose them prior to a game. [2:34] But then, you know, I think our average age was 31 when those guys were in. [2:38] And when the other boys came in, our average age was 27. [2:41] So suddenly you might see the positive in that and that Paul now stays test match rugby and he will certainly learn from this. [2:49] And the same with Cameron. [2:51] And then Pitti playing lock and being captain at the same time and playing for lock, which he hasn't played for a while. [2:58] And then a guy like, so we're happy, you know, sometimes if we lost the game, I would have sat here and said, [3:03] yes, we couldn't handle what happened to us during this week. [3:06] But now it's nice to say that it did happen. [3:08] And again, now, you know, there's not to, not to moan about it, but we actually have eight locks out. [3:14] And I can name them for you. [3:16] John Klein, Salman Murad, Ergius Neiman, Eben Echebet, Lode Jager, Franco Mostert, Riley Norton. [3:27] There's another one. [3:28] It's eight, you know. [3:29] So I'm not saying that you have empathy or sympathy. [3:32] I'm saying that, like, just I would have loved to give Riley a run, yeah. [3:35] But then Ben Jason comes on and I thought Ben Jason had a really good impact when he was on the field. [3:40] And, yeah, we could mingle it a little bit with guys playing six, seven and eight between Jasper and Marco and Cameron. [3:46] So all in all, I thought above average performance. [3:54] The credit that the young guys are applying to your older guys, do you think it will be released after their success today? [4:03] Sorry, I couldn't do the second part. [4:05] Do you think that the young guys will apply more and more pressure the more they get experience on your older guys? [4:11] Of course, everyone wants to play for the Springboks. [4:14] So if you get the opportunity to play for the Springboks, the guy that grabs the opportunity with both hands is definitely going to get the jersey [4:21] and probably the guy that's in the top form as well. [4:23] So there's a lot of different aspects that goes into consideration. [4:28] But for us as a player, I'm going to give 100% and make sure I can live up to the standards that's set to play for the Springboks. [4:36] Rasi, you mentioned Cameron's performance and you see all the players coming on. [4:46] You know, they wouldn't obviously have played. [4:49] In hindsight, they gave a brilliant performance. [4:53] And also, if you look at the second quarter, now we finish the game, but Ox going on. [4:59] Just first of all, what is Ox's injury? [5:02] Ox got a knee injury. [5:04] I think it's pretty bad, but the normal saying, we'll have to do the scans and find out what's wrong. [5:10] But we wouldn't have taken him off. The game was pretty much not definitely in the bag, as you saw. [5:16] So yeah, you've got a knee injury. [5:18] And then, I hope I'm not repeating myself, but those two players, obviously to get caps into guys. [5:24] You know, it's a new competition, this. [5:27] Bonus points do tell. [5:28] And I saw this morning when other teams play, shit, they're going for bonus points. [5:31] You know, they are chasing it in New Zealand and Australia. [5:34] And it's probably something we weren't planning to do. [5:37] We were planning to just win this test match, because we think England is a class team. [5:42] But then injuries happened. [5:44] And for those boys to play in this intensity against a team like that with Curry and Pollock, [5:49] and, you know, they are a good team, you know, they are on a losing streak now. [5:54] But before that, they won an 11 game winning streak. [5:56] So they're now to win. [5:58] But yes, for those boys to get used to, I don't think they were brilliant, the guys who played there. [6:04] But they certainly weren't out of class at that level. [6:08] And that's good. [6:10] And Zach, no, I mean, we would have loved Zach to have played much more games, [6:17] URC and, you know, really get roughed up as a tight end. [6:21] But, you know, you want him to go through tough times. [6:24] And that happened the last three weeks at scrumming against Ox and Gerrard and Tooks and so on. [6:30] So we saw what he did there. [6:32] And, you know, there's no doubt about his general play. [6:35] I mean, he's a fantastic player, he's mobile, he can tackle and so on. [6:38] But we had probably, because we didn't see him a lot playing in URC, [6:42] we didn't have great evidence that he could make it again. [6:45] But then at training sessions he showed. [6:47] So we were very happy for him that he came through it that way. [7:09] Yeah, if you lose those two kind of guys, the quality of those two players, [7:12] the young guys, they want to definitely make a step up [7:14] and they want to definitely take the opportunity with both hands. [7:17] So, of course, they want to, we had an extra clarity session [7:19] and make sure they know exactly what to do. [7:21] We try to inform them how the game is going to go. [7:24] But again, the system is set in stone. [7:27] And if you buy into the system, you understand the system, [7:30] the system will take care of the player. [7:32] And I think that's the nice thing about us at the moment. [7:35] We've got a really good system. [7:36] We talk a lot about training or depth. [7:41] Was it nice to be forced to test it? [7:45] Yes, I think the spot on there sometimes is difficult [7:49] or it takes a lot of courage to swap in and out, [7:52] especially with a new competition. [7:53] That was what I was trying to say in the previous question, [7:56] but I got off track. [7:58] You know, with a new competition, [8:00] yeah, if you were forced to make things, [8:03] you know, it's tough not to play Sierra. [8:05] And Paul is coming through and Marco is coming through. [8:09] And then you think, where are you going to play then? [8:11] We've got a saying, it will come to us. [8:13] You know, we believe in that, that it will come to us, [8:16] but certainly we'll have to make some big calls in this year [8:20] to be 100% sure about next year, [8:23] that when we go into the World Cup next year, [8:25] that we test our depth. [8:27] And today was destiny, took charge of that [8:30] and we could go with that [8:32] and luckily it worked out the right way. [8:34] It's that England are quite proud of how they went [8:39] in the second 20 minutes of the game, not to half time. [8:41] Can you talk about specifically how that made you feel at the side [8:44] and then maybe how you responded in the second half? [8:48] Yeah, we, of course, we went a bit off track. [8:52] We made it with mistakes. [8:53] They kicked the ball back and behind the back, [8:55] similar to what they did in, you know, [8:57] in the 2023 World Cup semi-finals. [9:00] So we were kind of used to it. [9:02] We knew what to do at the end of the stage. [9:04] And that's why luckily in the second half, [9:06] we could manage it and we could execute what we're supposed to do. [9:10] Awesome. [9:11] Guys, blog us off please, if you don't like. [9:15] I wouldn't say that. I thought it was good. [9:30] I thought England were really sharp around the balls that wasn't catch clean [9:34] and the scraps around it, as people call it. [9:37] I thought they were really sharp and probably think that went 60-40 there. [9:40] I think we won 60% and then 40%. [9:43] I thought Garza was great in his 50th test match under the high ball. [9:46] He was exceptional there. [9:48] And then, you know, I think we did go a little bit pear-shaped. [9:52] It's been Kirtley got the yellow card. [9:54] And then, you know, we had to play around with that. [9:56] Karan going to blind wing and Pitti taking Scrum off. [9:59] But yes, the aerial battle is certainly something with the way the laws are now, [10:04] that there can't be anybody blocking for that guy in the air. [10:07] So I also thought that England might have lost some momentum with their late change. [10:12] You know, Marcus is a wonderful player, but certainly with Freddie not in, [10:16] I'm not sure if he's injured. [10:17] And the other fullback was throwing because of the, I don't know, [10:21] what's a blinder there? I'm in English. [10:23] But, you know, he didn't play. [10:24] So the aerial battle was a massive thing. [10:26] I think the aerial battle is becoming like a set face. [10:28] You know, it's another source of possession. [10:31] And then I saw the games this morning. [10:33] It was like frantic rugby. [10:35] It was just busy and on slippery fields and that, that. [10:38] And I thought this one was a little bit different. [10:40] I thought this one was, the aerial battle was another source of possession. [10:45] Rossi, I was just wondering about the availability of something we'd ask for next week. [10:51] You're in Scotland. [10:52] See, yeah, Verne, Ox and I think Andre went off with the head back. [10:57] Yeah. [10:58] And then are you getting any other reinforcements back? [11:01] We've basically almost had thrown in every single player that's available in South Africa. [11:05] No, there's quite a few who's missed out so far, you know. [11:10] I think Ox will be out, to be honest. [11:12] That's just my gut feeling of seeing a guy like Ox when he says he can't go on. [11:16] Then there's something not great. [11:18] Even with a head knock, I'm not sure. [11:21] Because he got the head knock early in the week, maybe he can be available. [11:25] We'll see, depending on his symptoms. [11:27] Andre definitely got a head knock concussion in the game. [11:30] I'm not sure which category that will be. [11:32] And then, I think Lewitt might be ready. [11:34] I think Sos is another two weeks. [11:36] But we have Kürbis-Vissel, we have Vincent Tukas still there. [11:39] Who was the other injury? [11:41] See up. [11:42] See up, you know, the scans will be tomorrow. [11:44] If it's a grade one, then it's a chance. [11:47] It takes ten days. [11:48] If it's a grade two, then probably not next week. [11:51] Peter, I think Coach Rossi did touch on this question a little bit. [11:56] For you, how easy or difficult is it to find out at Relative Sport Notches that you were going to positional change? [12:02] How easy or difficult is it for you to adjust to the knock position and then also have the burden of being the captain as well, while you're trying to adjust to moving to forelock as well? [12:13] Yeah, I wonder being the captain is a burden. [12:15] It's an opportunity and it's a massive privilege for me. [12:17] And then, like I said earlier, it's a system we've got so well developed system that you can just fall into the system and you know exactly where to go, even if you change positions. [12:26] And of course, if I make a mistake, it's just someone else to cover for me. [12:30] So we've got a good saying that the team will protect you. [12:33] And I felt very comfortable moving there. [12:36] Kassi is the captain of Kassi, and then Kim will come back to the board of English. [12:41] Rossi, Petty was a lot more tootsie betrokken, [12:43] but in the 8th year, he boort geëvenhaar of 54, [12:46] so how special was this year? [12:48] I've seen it this week. [12:50] I'm gonna be honest on social media, [12:51] and I've seen it this week. [12:53] So I've seen it. [12:54] And it's interesting. [12:56] Petty was the first captain [12:58] when I came to the first time to coached against Wallace, [13:00] and we've been talking about today, [13:01] and we've talked about any of the things against Wallace [13:03] to say that they're not a tier 1 nation. [13:05] I like the Wallace, [13:07] because they're a staff member. [13:08] But we came to a long way, [13:10] and I've said all that, [13:11] Petty is on the flank, [13:12] or we've played the slot, [13:13] and we've seen it on the floor, [13:14] and it's like that to step up [13:15] and now I'm going to win [13:18] and I'm going to win a rare tier 1 nation. [13:20] So yeah, [13:21] 18 records, [13:22] now we'll break the record again, [13:25] but it's like that, [13:27] it's so good for him, [13:28] and it's so good for him, [13:29] it was a great week for him, [13:30] for him to fall on various places, [13:31] and for him to bat, [13:32] what he heard first yesterday, [13:34] and I sebep about him, [13:35] and I hope that we had won just won 50�도 too, [13:37] to play with him, [13:38] and I hope that Paul said that he won. [13:40] And on these, [13:41] the records, [13:42] see I'm a lot ute, [13:44] that's so good. [13:46] So, [13:48] it was nice, [13:49] he was a good one, [13:51] you gave us to all the history of the last year [13:52] was, [13:54] the week was. [13:57] What areas [13:58] What's your favorite game? [14:00] What's your favorite game? [14:02] What's your favorite game? [14:04] What's your favorite game? [14:06] I think it's just one game. [14:08] It's obviously in the game. [14:10] Maybe it's more than a game. [14:12] I think Dion is right in the line. [14:14] I think, as Petty [14:16] to the slot, [14:18] I think Ben Jason was skittering [14:20] to the slot, obviously for Petty. [14:22] I think, how many games he played [14:25] in the last five months? [14:27] I think the best game is [14:29] to the slot to the slot and to the captain [14:31] to go. [14:33] I think the biggest thing [14:35] that we can learn from this game [14:37] is that what we learned [14:39] when we fell in Australia. [14:41] We are a male to the park [14:43] and they help us. [14:45] Obviously, they are in England [14:47] and they were 10 days. [14:49] So, [14:51] people always learn from your fault [14:53] and I think we learned from our fault [14:55] and we could use it in this game. [14:57] Yeah, it was a man of a half time. [14:59] It was actually a few. [15:01] It was a couple of times [15:03] and it was in situations like this [15:05] that were on the other side. [15:07] So, I think this is the thing that I think [15:09] is the most happy for the players [15:13] and for South Africa and for the Span. [15:15] So, [15:17] I think that there are two players [15:19] that have played more than 100 players [15:21] that have played more than 100 players [15:23] and you know how the Span [15:25] is still on the hands of the ball? [15:27] Yeah, I have talked about Jan Hendrik [15:29] and we said, [15:30] we said, [15:31] we said Jan Hendrik [15:32] in the last few weeks [15:33] that we concentrate on a bit more [15:34] on the back. [15:35] We will see if you can make it [15:37] and we will see if you can make it. [15:39] And then he will get Ox and Gerard [15:40] and he will get a lot of attention [15:41] and he will get a lot of attention [15:42] and he will get a lot of attention. [15:43] He knows how he knows. [15:44] He is definitely an experienced player [15:45] but what we do in the games [15:48] is very exciting [15:49] and he does it [15:50] for us [15:51] like Ox [15:52] and Gerard [15:53] and Dux [15:54] so yeah, [15:56] I think that Dan is very frustrated. [15:57] The first half [15:58] I think we have not got a ball [16:00] on our scrams [16:02] the whole first half [16:03] so I think Dan was still frustrated [16:05] and then [16:06] young aunts to have [16:07] Paul and Cameron [16:08] even like the flank [16:09] so was [16:10] with Petty and Sia [16:11] and [16:12] to the flank [16:13] and the [16:14] two of the two [16:15] who have one cap [16:16] together [16:17] and they have one cap [16:18] together [16:19] and they have to go [16:20] through the first half [16:22] and then the Ouswes Grant [16:23] who has played a lot of [16:25] and Kobe [16:26] who has played a lot of [16:27] and he has played a lot of [16:28] and then a [16:29] yellow card [16:30] to get in the game [16:31] where they have two [16:32] three [16:33] for half [16:34] and then half [16:35] to the regroup [16:36] and this is [16:37] for the end.