“They Took it Away From Us”: Erasmus Names One Loss To England That Still Haunts Him
Describing England as one of South Africa’s greatest rugby rivals, World Cup-winning Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus reflected on some of the defining moments between the two nations while paying tribute to the quality and depth of English rugby.
Speaking ahead of the latest chapter in one of international rugby’s fiercest rivalries at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday, Erasmus said clashes between the Springboks and England have consistently produced unforgettable moments, with both sides experiencing their share of triumphs and heartbreak.
The Bok coach cast his mind back to his playing days under Nick Mallett, recalling the heartbreaking end to South Africa’s bid for a record 18th consecutive Test victory.
The Springboks had set a then-world record with 17 successive Test wins before their remarkable run was ended by England at Twickenham in December 1998.
“I remember back when I was playing, and we were going for the record of winning 17 matches in a row under Nick Mallett. It was England who took it away from us,” Erasmus said.
He also reflected on one of the Springboks’ most iconic Rugby World Cup victories, when flyhalf Jannie de Beer famously slotted five drop goals to inspire a 44-21 quarter-final victory over England at the Stade de France in Paris in 1999.
“I played in the game in the World Cup where Jannie de Beer converted five drop goals, and we went through to the next stage, and England didn’t,” he recalled.
Erasmus acknowledged that the rivalry has swung both ways over the years, with England also inflicting painful defeats on the Springboks.
“England has also done things against us that have taken the glory away from us,” he said.
The rivalry has been defined by several high-stakes encounters, including multiple Rugby World Cup finals and a host of closely contested Test matches.
The Springboks have held the upper hand in the biggest meetings between the two nations in recent years, defeating England in both the 2007 and 2019 Rugby World Cup finals.
The 2019 triumph was particularly memorable as South Africa scored their first-ever tries in a Rugby World Cup final, with winger Makazole Mapimpi crossing before Cheslin Kolbe sealed a famous 32-12 victory in Yokohama.
Their most recent World Cup meeting was equally dramatic. South Africa edged England 16-15 in a gripping 2023 semi-final at the Stade de France, overturning a 12-6 half-time deficit after trailing for much of the contest before Handré Pollard’s late penalty secured the Springboks’ place in a second successive World Cup final.
“We’ve had a few World Cup finals against them and some other important games where the margin of victory was just one point,” Erasmus said.
Beyond the rich history between the two nations, Erasmus believes England’s immense player depth and the strength of the Premiership make them one of the toughest opponents in world rugby.
“It’s always tough against England. They have many rugby players. I think France has the most, then England and then us. The strength in their numbers is really good. The money in the Premiership, where some of our players play, and the standard is really high.”
Despite the fierce competition, Erasmus said the Springboks relish the challenge of facing England.
“It’s an honour playing against them, and it’s always one of the tougher Test matches.”
Summing up what the fixture means to both nations, Erasmus added: “It’s just a great rivalry.”
