Erasmus To Announce Springbok Squad For All Blacks Tests
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is set to announce his squad on Monday for the two upcoming Rugby Championship matches against the All Blacks.
The defending champions bounced back from a historic loss to the Wallabies at Ellis Park last weekend by defeating Australia in Cape Town on Saturday.
The victory came despite the absence of key players, including captain Siya Kolisi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Pieter-Steph du Toit, who were all injured in the first Test.
Following the squad announcement, the team will depart for New Zealand on Tuesday. The first match is scheduled for Saturday, 6 September, at iconic Eden Park in Auckland, with the second Test taking place a week later on 13 September at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
Pollard Credits Team After Win
In a separate match, Argentina secured a 29-23 victory over New Zealand in Buenos Aires—their first-ever win against the All Blacks on home soil. This result has left the competition wide open with four rounds remaining.
After the Springboks’ 30-22 win over the Wallabies, which secured the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate, flyhalf Handré Pollard was named Man of the Match. Pollard, who also became the second player to surpass 800 Test points for the Springboks, credited the entire team for their resilience.
“It was a tough week for us and rightfully so,” said Pollard, who also became the second player to pass 800 Test points for the Springboks.
“We were disappointed with the result last week, so it was challenging to balance the emotions and tactics for the game. But we learned a lot from the last game, and we hit the sweet spot toward the end of the week.
“We may have a lot of senior guys in the squad, but several younger players are stepping up as well, and we take lessons from everyone, and that’s what got us over the line this week.”
Pollard, who slotted three penalty goals and three conversions for a personal points tally of 15 points, was modest about being named the player of the match: “It was all about the team.
“The win was the only thing we needed, and a lot of guys played very well, so although I got the award, it was mainly about getting the result.”
When quizzed about how the Boks felt about all the negativity surrounding their round-one defeat against the Wallabies at Ellis Park, the double Rugby World Cup winner said: “People care about the Springboks and that’s something we always have to remember. They are allowed to be disappointed when we lose and excited when we win.
“We understand that responsibility on our shoulders, and we try to get the desired result more often than not.”
Pollard, who made his debut for the Springboks in 2014, said playing for South Africa remained incredibly special despite all the accolades over the decade that he has been playing, and he cherished still being part of the squad.
“For me, it was never about trophies, medals, or awards,” said Pollard.
“It’s about playing for South Africa, and if you play one Test it’s a privilege, or for a few years as I have, it remains unbelievable. The older one gets; you appreciate it even more because the end is getting closer.
“This is such an unbelievable group of men, coaches, and management, you want to be part of it as long as you can, and to do that, you must work hard and play well. We want to win, keep South Africa right up there and make the country proud.”
