Though Rassie Erasmus conceded an injury to Willie le Roux had impacted the Springbok attack on Saturday, he lauded the performance of rookie Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
A last-minute, 40-metre drop goal from replacement flyhalf Ciaran Frawley saw Ireland snatch a 24-21 victory at Kings Park, consigning the world champions to a drawn series.
Ireland took a 16-6 lead into half time, before the Springboks launched a strong comeback to go up 24-19 with 10 minutes remaining.
“We would have loved to beat them 2-0, but now it’s a drawn series. It’s always two or three points in games between us and them,” Erasmus said after the match.
“They were definitely in the mood. It was the last game of their season and after this they have a break. The way they came out firing, we expected that, but they were really, really good in the first half.
“Our main concern was that first half. We fought back from a long way at half time and converted when we had to, but in that last minute, they were better than us.
“In the end, it was a drop goal that was really well executed. We couldn’t stop that. We fought back well in the second, but it wasn’t good enough. That’s why Ireland is one of the top teams in the world.”
One of the positives for the Springboks was the emergence of Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who shone in his third Test match, after replacing the concussed Willie le Roux in the first couple of minutes.
Erasmus said that while the Boks missed Le Roux’s influence in conducting the attacking play, Feinberg-Mngomezulu showed that he can swim in the treacherous waters of Test rugby.
“When Willie is there, our attack does function a bit better, his vision and feel for the game. Even if he’s not the youngest anymore, Willie is someone who links the centres and wings very well,” Erasmus explained.
“Sacha definitely brings something else to the game, which is his individual brilliance, not really in the structural stuff. He certainly did not look out of place, only playing his third game.
“It’s sad to lose. But the experience Sacha got playing against a team which is really well organised, he will take it and use it going forward.”
The defeat was only the third for the Boks in 18 matches stretching back to the end of 2022. They are next in action against Portugal in Bloemfontein on Saturday when Erasmus said changes had already been planned.
“Next week we will pick a very different team. We have announced that team internally. The guys who played tonight will help them prepare until Wednesday and then they will have a 10-day break.
“We will bring in a few other guys and see if we can get out of them what we got out of Sacha today.”
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
