Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus expressed satisfaction after his team secured a convincing 41-13 victory against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday. This win marks a strong start to their 2024 season.

While acknowledging it wasn’t a flawless performance, Erasmus highlighted the positive aspects. “We made some errors, but there were also areas that functioned well,” he said. “Considering new coaches and debuting players, there were some rough spots, but the effort and intensity were commendable. We understand it takes time to fully gel.”

Erasmus emphasized the importance of achieving their goal: “The key takeaway is that we achieved our objective, and the debutants proved their capabilities at this level.”

Delving into the specifics, Erasmus said, “It was a typical tough encounter against Wales. Our scrums were strong, but we weren’t dominant in collisions. We conceded a try, but our five tries and potential for more highlight areas for improvement.”

Erasmus acknowledged the match’s value: “It was beneficial as some players were unavailable, like Jasper Wiese (suspension), and some Japanese players lacked recent game time. However, the young players stepped up and performed admirably.”

Springbok captain Pieter-Steph du Toit expressed his satisfaction with the result, especially considering their previous loss to Wales (22-20). “Leading the team was an honor,” he said. “Twickenham’s atmosphere was incredible, almost like a home game. Although I felt some pre-match jitters, I believe we achieved a lot today.”

Erasmus mentioned the medical team’s assessment of players’ injuries before their Sunday night flight back to South Africa. They will also consider injuries within the Vodacom Bulls after their United Rugby Championship final against Glasgow Warriors before finalizing the squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series against Ireland. The Springboks are expected to arrive in South Africa on Monday.