After Damian de Allende’s loss in his 100th Test, Rassie Erasmus wants the Springboks to positively honour the milestones of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ox Nché on Saturday.
Two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Du Toit and fellow World Cup winner Nché are set to play their 100th and 50th Tests, respectively, in the second Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
De Allende became the 10th Bok centurion last week, but the two-time world champion’s achievement was sullied by the Boks’ 33-16 defeat by the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
PLUS: Brannas ‘always’ on Rassie’s ICE list
New Zealand have also replaced the Boks as the world’s No 1-ranked team, and speaking on Monday, Erasmus shared the team’s frustrations while emphasising bouncing back at Cape Town Stadium after Du Toit and Nché take to the field.
“I’ve been involved with this team as a coach for the past nine to 10 years now and I can tell you they are both humble guys, just like Damian de Allende,” the Bok chief said. “They both deserve it 100% to reach these milestones.
“When it comes to Pieter-Steph, even the New Zealand people will be able to testify to what a down-to-earth person he is.
ALSO: All Blacks preparing for a ‘bigger beast’
“He’s someone who doesn’t talk much. He likes to spend most of his time on the farm, rather than anywhere else. If it’s not there, then it’s on the rugby field.
“I can sit here and scold and curse and shout, because that’s how I feel in my heart [about last week’s loss]. I’m not happy at all as I sit here, but it doesn’t help to be angry.
“We [as coaches and players] are angry with each other. We did stupid things.
KIWI SCRIBE: Has Rassie lost his spark?
“All we can do now to rectify that matter is to prepare 100% in the right way, correct the mistakes and then also try to find a counterweight to the things that New Zealand did so well.
“I am very proud of Pieter-Steph and Ox and we will try hard not to do the same to them as what unfortunately happened to Doogz [De Allende] on Saturday.”
FREE DIGI-MAG: Bok 100 club gets bigger!
Photo: Johan Orton/Gallo Images
The post Boks will try to do better by PSDT, Ox appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
After Damian de Allende’s loss in his 100th Test, Rassie Erasmus wants the Springboks to positively honour the milestones of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ox Nché on Saturday.
The post Boks will try to do better by PSDT, Ox appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
