The Springboks led 13-12 at halftime and spent lengthy periods attacking inside New Zealand’s 22, but failed to convert territorial dominance into points as the visitors scored five tries to one.
Erasmus said New Zealand’s defensive work proved decisive. “That is the tool New Zealand is great at. They really know how to stop you when they are inside their 22 in different ways,” Erasmus said.
“Whether it’s stripping the ball, contesting for the ball on the ground, or harassing the nine within the laws.”
Erasmus said SA controlled much of the game during the opening 50 minutes but paid the price for failing to capitalise on scoring opportunities. “I thought up until the 50th minute, we were really dominating territory; we felt we were really in the game,” Erasmus said.
“But a class team like New Zealand, if you don’t convert, they give you a proper hiding.”
Erasmus acknowledged that the Springboks also contributed to their own downfall through handling errors and missed opportunities.
Despite the defeat, Erasmus rejected suggestions that the series is beyond SA’s reach. “We’ve been in many catastrophic situations in our lives,” Erasmus said.
Erasmus pointed to the 2021 British and Irish Lions series and the 2019 Rugby World Cup, when SA lost an opening pool match to New Zealand before going on to lift the trophy. “We lost the first Test against the British and Irish Lions; everyone said that was catastrophic. We lost the first pool game against New Zealand in the World Cup, and everyone said that was catastrophic,” Erasmus said.
Erasmus admitted New Zealand now holds a strong advantage but insisted there remains a path back into the series. “To win the series, we will have to win three games on the trot. Without a doubt, it puts them in a very good position,” Erasmus said.
“And now we have to go to Cape Town and try to win there; then it’s all level.”
The Springboks’ task was made even more difficult in the final stages after Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach were both shown yellow cards, leaving SA with 13 players for the closing 10 minutes.
Erasmus conceded that mounting a comeback under those circumstances was always going to be difficult.
SA will now look to level the series when the teams meet again in Cape Town next weekend.
–SABCSport/ChannelAfrica–
