A history-making World Cup win by the Springbok Women has provided the men’s team with additional inspiration to bust their Eden Park hoodoo against the All Blacks on Saturday, coach Rassie Erasmus says.
Erasmus got up in the middle of the night in New Zealand to watch SA beat Italy 29-24 in a tightly contested Pool D match at the York Community Stadium on Sunday.
The Boks, ranked 12th in the world, defied the odds to topple Italy and clinch their first World Cup quarterfinal berth at their fifth attempt.
The All Blacks will put a stunning unbeaten 50-match streak at Eden Park on the line when they host the Bok men in a Rugby Championship clash on Saturday.
“I actually got up at 3am to watch the Bok women win,” Erasmus said.
“Congratulations to all, and the women’s win has inspired us.
“It was awesome to watch and well done to everyone in that environment and to SA Rugby for what they are doing for the SA women.
“It is the first time they have reached the quarterfinals and they will probably play either New Zealand or France in the quarterfinals, so that will be pretty tough.”
Erasmus said both teams would be desperate for a win at Eden Park in front of a sell-out 50,000 crowd.
“The Boks are desperate and we do not win here often, not to mention Eden Park.
“You will see guys from both sides putting everything out there.
“We are playing New Zealand away from home, which is obviously a massive challenge.
“The Boks would have loved to have won both our Rugby Championship games against Australia, but we only won one and we are currently third on the log.
“I’m sure the Australians’ tails are up and Argentina will be feeling good about themselves because they are playing really well.
“SA and New Zealand are not hitting their straps currently. We had a loss and they also had one.
“We are always big rivals and matches between us have been very close in the past couple of years.
“Even in the World Cup final.
“Obviously, history is a big thing and much is being made of the whole Eden Park record and so on.
“It will be a nervous[-racking] week and we are confident we can do well.
“There will also be pressure on New Zealand who are experiencing the same feelings as us.
“It is two teams who have a hell of a lot of respect for one another and both teams believe they can win the match.
“I have been touring here since 1994 as a player and it is never easy.
“For us, it is always nerve-racking and a tough week and it will be the same for New Zealand.”
Asked why the Boks had deviated from naming their team on Tuesdays to a new time of Thursday, Erasmus said: “We’re not quite sure of what New Zealand will put out there.
“We think we will have a little bit more of a benefit by only naming it on Thursday when they also name their team.
“It [the New Zealand team] is a bit of an unknown to us.
“This game is such a big one that the best thing is for New Zealand not to be able to analyse us.
“That is why the announcement is only on Thursday.”
Erasmus explained why prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye was not included in the Springbok squad for the two-Test tour of New Zealand.
Ntlabakanye has denied violating anti-doping rules after testing positive for a banned substance.
“I had a good conversation with him beforehand,” Erasmus said.
“If Asenathi were on tour, we felt many questions would’ve been directed at him and that could’ve taken away his focus for the game ahead.
“It’s obviously a hugely personal thing that he’s dealing with now and doing all he can to deal with.
“It would’ve taken a lot from him, and then still having to focus on playing under massive pressure while distracted.
“He could’ve come on tour with us, but it would’ve been unfair to him.”
The Herald
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