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Rassie Erasmus made call to bring on match winning Morne Steyn
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber admits that Director of Rugby and occasional waterboy Rassie Erasmus made the call to bring on Morné Steyn as South Africa clinched the Lions series decider in Cape Town.
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Nienaber said he couldn’t watch as replacement standoff Steyn, the hero of the 2009 tour, wrote himself into the Springbok history books as he brought the curtain down on a pulsating 19-16 win in the decider at the Cape Town Stadium with two critical penalties.
“Our attitude was ‘let’s move on and find the solutions’,” said Nienaber. “There was so much experience in the squad, so we could manage to get the work done in the end. Our biggest challenge was getting time to prepare – we had some COVID issues and had to sit in hotel rooms for a week. We lost a week, but there was never going to be time for excuses. We made it work.”
Nienaber said he couldn’t watch as Steyn kicked two late penalty goals.
“I had my head down between my legs when he kicked that last penalty goal, to be honest – I just could not watch,” he admitted.
“It was just happy for him that he succeeded – it is amazing that he did the same thing 12 years ago. I also want to congratulate the other two flyhalves in the group – Handré Pollard was great during the series and Elton Jantjies was just amazing this week for us. He contributed so much, even after he knew he was not going to be involved in the third test.”
Nienaber said he cannot claim the credit for the telling replacements for himself.
“It was a call made by the coaching staff, we sit high up in the box and can see some things happening and Rassie (Erasmus) is down there next to the field, and he also observes,” explained Nienaber.
“Then we chat and make a call. We were fortunate that our subs were spot on today.”
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“The ebb and flow of the game was like the Rugby World Cup final all over again.
“We knew we had to hang in there and make sure every player stayed in the game. This was a serious test of decision-making and character, and we came through.”
Nienaber said that while they would enjoy the win, they stil have one eye on the Rugby Championship, which starts on Saturday when the Boks take on Argentina in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The Lion who cost his team the series in 2009 has given his verdict on Sky Sports, as has the legendary Ian McGeechan#LionsTour2021 #LionsRugby #BoksvLions #CastleLionsSeries
https://t.co/AbrWZdYerZ— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 7, 2021
“We have done homework on Argentina already, because we knew it was going to be short turnaround. They are a very tough team, so tonight we enjoy, tomorrow we start again,” said Nienaber.
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Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said words failed him. “I cannot explain in words – this group had so many challenges, with our first proper training just before the first Test.
“We decided though that there will be no excuses – people would not accept that anyway. We knew if we step onto the field, we needed to be ready to play,” added Kolisi.
Kolisi said the coaching staff pressed the right emotional buttons with the players.
PLAYER RATINGS: It may have been their day but there were plenty of below-par performances. #CastleLionsSeries #RSAvBIL #LionsRugby https://t.co/pglwR5olbW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 7, 2021
“You cannot motivate people anymore with rugby stories, what is driving everyone is what matters,” he said.
“They know how to get us up emotionally. It was easy to play for South Africa, although they were not here. People came out today on our way to the stadium. They did not have to, but still they came to wish us luck. You cannot let them down.”
“Cheslin does not use many opportunities – today he just needed one. Willie (le Roux) was another – the backs came through when we needed them.”
“The character of the team – the guys who could not play kept on supporting – that attitude came through. We have a good work ethic. We find solutions and will be ready for next week.”
The 2025 tour to Australia was a post-game topic in Cape Town, Warren Gatland getting asked if he will be available to coach and what needs to change in the build-up for that series to be a success #LionsTour2021 #LionsRugby #BoksvLions #CastleLionsSerieshttps://t.co/SxzaLzPtQ0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 7, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to comments