Erasmus accepts blame after Springboks lose 33-16 to All Blacks

Rassie Erasmus has taken responsibility for South Africa’s tactical errors in the Springboks’ 33-16 defeat by New Zealand at Ellis Park. The loss came despite South Africa reaching the All Blacks’ 22-metre area 11 times, with only one try resulting from those visits.

Erasmus said the failure to turn attacking opportunities into points involved both the players and the coaching staff. He also accepted that several decisions made during the match did not produce the outcome South Africa wanted, particularly when the Springboks were close to the New Zealand line.

The coach singled out a period around the 55th to 60th minute, when South Africa had three scrums in midfield. Rather than take the available three-point opportunities, the Springboks chose other options and failed to convert the possession into a reward. Erasmus described that as a missed opportunity created by the team’s own decisions.

He also acknowledged that the backline was unsettled after Kurt-Lee Arendse left the match injured. Jesse Kriel moved to the wing, Damian de Allende shifted to outside centre and Andre Esterhuizen moved into the number 12 position instead of being used as a forward impact option. Erasmus said the reshuffle disrupted the structure of the backline.

In hindsight, he would have moved Damian Willemse to the wing, used Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fullback and placed Manie Libbok at flyhalf. That arrangement would have kept the existing midfield partnership of de Allende and Esterhuizen together, while allowing the replacements to fill more familiar roles.

The defeat ended a match in which Erasmus felt South Africa produced good passages of play but lacked the accuracy to make them count. He said the final result outweighed those positive spells and rejected the idea of using circumstances as an excuse, placing the responsibility on himself and the team.