Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus didn’t mince his words after South Africa’s stuttering 42-24 win over Italy in the first Castle Lager Incoming Series Test at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, a match that left him more irritated than elated despite a six-try showing, Cape {town} Etc reports.
South Africa led 28-3 at halftime and seemed poised to run riot, but a sluggish second-half performance saw Italy outscore the hosts after the break, forcing Erasmus to consider shaking up his team for the second Test in Gqeberha.
‘We’re obviously pleased with the win and the tries, but I’m not going to pretend that this performance was good enough,’ Erasmus said bluntly. ‘We lost structure and energy in the second half, it’s frustrating, and we’ll have to reassess our approach.’
The Bok coach had initially pencilled in a rotational plan for the second match, with around 13 to 14 players expected to feature regardless of the Loftus result. However, Saturday’s flat finish has thrown a spanner in those plans.
‘Some of the players we planned to rest or rotate might now need to start again, and a few who underperformed could find themselves coming off the bench,’ Erasmus added. ‘Italy brought a level of physicality and intensity we didn’t match in the second half. We need a team next week that can go the full 80.’
South Africa looked to be cruising when they crossed the whitewash for their fifth try just after halftime, but a disallowed score for obstruction swung momentum back to the Azzurri, who refused to fold.
Italy scored three second-half tries, showcasing a mix of grit and flair that clearly rattled the Boks.
‘Credit to them,’ said Erasmus. ‘They stood tall in every facet, scrums, mauls, defence, attack. We let them back in, and they took advantage. We lacked intensity and didn’t adapt well to the stop-start nature of the match.’
Despite his frustration, Erasmus highlighted a few silver linings, notably the Boks’ ability to score six tries even with misfiring set pieces and a shaky breakdown presence.
‘We still found ways to score, even though our maul and counterattack weren’t clicking,’ he said. ‘That shows there’s potential, but also a lot to fix.’
One player who might not feature in the next match is veteran centre Damian de Allende, who is nursing a minor hamstring niggle. ‘Luckily, we didn’t pick up any serious injuries, just some bruised egos,’ Erasmus quipped.
Rugby fans across South Africa can catch the Springboks’ much-awaited showdown with Italy live, following a landmark broadcast partnership between SuperSport, SABC, and SARU.
With the second Test looming, the Springbok brains trust will have some tough decisions to make.
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Picture: Anton Geyser / Gallo Images
