Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

What Rassie Erasmus said to Boks before RWC Final win

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus had some inspirational words for his Springbok team ahead of their historic Rugby World Cup victory – revealed captain Siya Kolisi.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kolisi was speaking after South Africa beat England 32-12 in the final at International Stadium Yokohama, their third Rugby World Cup since the tournament began.

Born just a year before the end of Apartheid, Kolisi is the first black man to captain the Springboks in a test rugby match and now the first the win a Rugby World Cup as captain.

“I was grateful for everything the team has been through. We have faced a lot of challenges but the people of South Africa have got behind us and we are so grateful to them.

“We have so many problems in our country, a team like this – we come from different backgrounds, different races – and we came together with one goal. I really hope we have done that for South Africa, to show that we can pull together if we want to achieve something.”

Video Spacer

Kolisi also revealed the inspiration words offered up by Erasmus: “Since I have been alive I have never seen South Africa like this. With all the challenges we have, the coach said to us that we are not playing for ourselves anymore, we are playing for the people back home – that is what we wanted to do today.

“We appreciate all the support – people in the taverns, in the shebeens, farms, homeless people – there were screens there – and people in the rural areas. Thank you so much, we appreciate the support. We love you South Africa and we can achieve anything if we work together as one.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Erasmus thanked the support of all of South Africa on a day he felt proud to be South African.

“Just use our players and use the intelligence we have in South Africa and the supporters we have and all the resources.

“There are so many good things in South Africa but always in the past, we seem to look at all the bad things, we just decided, listen let’s stand together and work really hard and play well on the field and then from that all the other things will come out later and I think that’s what we did and against with that we won the World Cup, so that’s great.”

“The boys believed in themselves, this bunch of guys have been together for 19 weeks, we know one another really well. We got so much respect for England we really prepared well and I think we fought hard till the end, and I’m so proud of them and I think also a little bit fortunate. But we are really enjoying it at this stage.”

ADVERTISEMENT

South Africa v Argentina | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

France v New Zealand | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

England v Wales | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

Tattoos & Rugby: Why are tattoos so popular with sportspeople? | Amber Schonert | Rugby Rising Locker Room Season 2

Lions Share | Episode 3

Zimbabwe vs Kenya | Rugby Africa Cup Semi Final | Full Match Replay

USA vs Spain | Men's International | Full Match Replay

Portugal vs Ireland | Men's International | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
NH 16 minutes ago
Wallabies player ratings vs British & Irish Lions | 2025 Lions series

Allan and Mcreight best on ground for the wallabies followed by Jorgenson and Wilson imo. Backs largely anonymous on attack but that was largely down to lack of go forward and opportunity. As many have alluded to, every wallaby forward put in a huge shift and showed heart, but they were bullied. Frost, Williams, Faessler, Slipper all lost the physicality battle. Wallabies were ok to good in most areas, lions were just better across most if not all of them. 3 work ons - 1) fix the lineout - that stymied any attacking chance and territory the wbs had in the first half. 2) better kick receipt and chase - lions ‘got the bounce of the ball’ too much which is to say they chased better. We need to win more of these 50/50 possessions. 3) physicality - lose the contest, lose the game. WBs simply lost the contact area too often, going backwards in attack and giving the lions quick ball in attack. Bell, Skelton, Tupou, Lukhan, Valetini should all come into contention for the 23 to provide more starch, but imo id pick for the lineout first so that may mean skelton off the bench. Wallabies need to come out firing and attempt to protect a lead, they can’t chase the game. Schmidt often balances the 23, but he needs to go all in with his starters. bell, best lineout hooker, allan, frost, hooper, valetini, mcreight, wilson, tate, lynagh, jorgo, ikitau, suaalii, peitsch, wright, 2nd best lienout hooker, slipper, tupou, skelton, nick CDC, gordon, JOC, kellaway.

6 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Iconic Lions moments of the professional era: 10-6 Iconic Lions moments of the professional era: 10-6