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What Rassie Erasmus said on refereeing in Springboks loss to Ireland
By Liam Heagney
Rassie Erasmus has shared his thoughts on how Saturday’s 24-25 defeat for the Springboks in Durban was handled by the team of officials led by referee Karl Dickson. Trailing 6-16 at the break, South Africa roared back in the second half to take a 24-19 lead on 65 minutes after Handre Pollard successfully kicked his eighth penalty off the tee.
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However, instead of progressing from there to take the win and seal a 2-0 Test series victory, Ciaran Frawley struck two drop goals to dramatically tip the result in Ireland’s favour and leave the series ending in a 1-1 draw.
“You can sit here with a sad face and think out excuses but the best team won on the day,” volunteered Erasmus, who now has recently retired ref Jaco Peyper working as part of the Springboks backroom staff.
“I thought the referee [Dickson] was good. I think the area we thought they [Ireland] would come at us was the breakdown, he refereed that well. I think he refereed the scrums well.
“I just think Ireland, really at the end when it mattered, we fought back from a long way at half-time and we really converted when we had to but just that last minute, they did better than us.
“Obviously we’d love to be 2-0, now it’s a drawn series. Between us and them it’s always two, three points and it’s always very tight. They definitely was in the mood of, ‘Listen, this is the last game of our season, after this we have got five weeks’ break’.
“The way they came out firing, we expected that but they really, really were good in that first half. At the end, it was a really good drop goal, well executed and we couldn’t stop that. I thought we did fight back very well second half but it wasn’t good enough and that is why Ireland is one of the top teams in the world.”
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South Africa failed to score a single try in the match, the attack missing the delicacy of veteran Willie le Roux at full-back as he was concussed in the second minute and replaced by rookie Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
“When Willie is there our attack functions a bit better. Sascha definitely brings something different to the game, which is individual brilliance… he certainly didn’t look out of his place only playing his third game.
“Willie’s vision and feel for the game, he is maybe not the youngest and the fastest anymore but he is definitely somebody who links the two wings and the centres very well with each other.
“It’s sad to lose, not nice, and I know as we are disappointed. A lot of the fans will be disappointed as well. I wouldn’t say positives but I will say the experience that Sascha felt against a team which is really well organised and is ranked in the top one, two always in the world the last couple of years, he will take that and will use that going forward.”
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South Africa’s maul is usually a potent attacking weapon but they steered away from it in the first half after Joe McCarthy engineered a crucial stop and they instead allowed Pollard to kick at the poles with their penalties rather than to the corner in the hope of driving their way over.
“Our lineout maul, we don’t want to maul against Ireland because Ireland are very technical at the mauls and (James) Ryan has a very unique way of stopping mauls. Not a lot of teams get a lot of results from mauling, so mauling wasn’t in the plan of our game.
“When coaching against Paul O’Connell you are always under pressure there. I thought our options from the lineouts could have been better, our attacking from the lineout could have been better. It was a quality team that put pressure on us… but it wasn’t the main concern of the game. The main concern was that first half.”
I don't know why people are trying to pick a fight out of Kolbe and Doris. Neither was doing anything wrong. Kolbe attempted to charge it down and in my opinion he slipped before he got to Doris. I don't think there was anything deliberate about it, honestly I thought he had slipped when I first saw the footage live. Then people complained Doris blocked him and then a fight broke out about everything.
I was kinda hoping the Drop-goal would be overturned because I am Springbok all the way. But when I saw the footage I knew they would be seriously stretching themselves to overturn that one. Kolbe was nowhere near the kicker, and he hadn't run into Doris, he had slipped. So Well done Ireland, they did have our number that day.
The first drop goal by Frauley was illegal it was a direct kick the ball did not bounce off the ground see 69.4 minutes
Bok supporter here. It was a brilliant game and I'm kinda happy the series was drawn. It keeps the rivalry growing, and rugby always wins when there are strong rivalries. Well done Ireland. To play a game like that given all the cards stacked against you (location, injuries, loss the previous week, etc…) was seriously impressive.
As a dedicated bok supporting japie I think that what the entire island of Ireland have brought to the world of rugby especially in the last decade should be given a standing ovation. I have a nagging feeling that they played the better rugby these last 2 tests they attacked well broke through our first line of defence many times with short inside passes and defended even better. Maybe Rassie needs to take another learning tour over there or maybe it’s time to bring back Nienies with all he’s learned since the WC. We need to work on these expansive tactics a lot more we couldn’t even score 1 try ffs. Having said that we’re still a bit disjointed but will improve with game time and oil on the springs. What a fantastic tour from the emerald warriors such a pity there wasn’t a decider but my blood pressure couldn’t take it.
National feelings aside, I think we’ve been very lucky starting w the matches leading to the 2023 RWC (Six Nations + prep games) as Ireland, South Africa, France, and later New Zealand emerged as four very good sides. Parity and games that are close / interesting are good for the sport. England is getting better as well. Think about it - exciting RWC, good Investec Cup final, good URC final and good EPL? final. It’s been a treat for the fans…who aren’t Welsh….or Aussie
I’m sure he was livid that Dickson didn’t follow in the footsteps of Barnes, Whitehouse and Pearce and hand them yet another undeserved victory.
Apparently didn’t get the fat envelope of unmarked sterling in on time this week
Amazing. A saffa not complaining about the ref! 😃
Jokes aside good comments from Rassie
It was a furious match like the ABs England match and both refs should be very pleased at how they handled it
Only one try but it edged the ABs match as the game of the round for me
No need for panic - just look at the data and game film and make some choices…You can’t be a bok forever. Scrumhalf needs better depth / decision-making. Pick a 8-man, no make it two. Have Willie develop 2 successors…Willemse and someone else to create plays
On the scrums 1st bok pack looked more dominant - I think part of that is Bongi
Big mess up, Bongi and Feinburg, why them 2 need to find another sport, them team you had for the first test you should have kept in order to have won the 2nd test. Come on coach, did you not see this coning you should have kept the same team you messed up really! Number 2, 21 and 1 retire not for you. Highly disappointing game. Champs to be beaten by small town players. Hooe this is not the end of the springboks, Hope you rethink the team especially if you going up against. NZ, France, Australia and Wales this will be a complete disaster for the springboks, choose your team wisely. Canan Moody where is he, he was really amazing, Damien Willimse where arw these guys. Kolise you rock! Fafe amazing, these rest of the team as well keep up the amazing team work you guys make it worth while to watching. 2nd test was a disaster honestly. 1, 2 and 21 keep them off the field.