Siya Kolisi Hails Rassie Erasmus As Boks Humble All Blacks In Historic Wellington Win

When the final whistle blew in Wellington on Saturday, the scoreboard told a story no Springbok or All Black fan will forget in a hurry. South Africa’s 43-10 victory wasn’t just another Test win. It was a demolition job that handed New Zealand their heaviest defeat in history, pushed the Boks back to the top of the world rankings, and ensured the Freedom Cup would stay in South Africa for the second year running.

For Siya Kolisi, the captain who lifted the Webb Ellis Cup twice, this win meant something more. It was about belief, trust, and the quiet revolution led by Rassie Erasmus and his coaching team.

A Coaching Masterclass

Kolisi didn’t hold back in crediting Erasmus and his staff for creating an environment where players are trusted to express themselves.

“The coaches allowed us the freedom to be ourselves on the field,” Kolisi said after the match. “They told us all week not to worry about mistakes, just stick to our structures and believe in ourselves.”

That approach paid off. Erasmus and his lieutenants backed younger and less experienced players, and Kolisi revealed that the senior core stood firmly behind those selections. “They picked guys who haven’t been playing a lot, and the regular players stuck behind them all the way,” he said. “That makes us stronger as a team.”

Rassie’s Reality Check

Erasmus, however, reminded everyone that rugby fortunes can swing both ways. He pointed out that the Boks themselves once suffered a record 57-0 defeat to the All Blacks in Albany.

“We’ll take this win, and we are very happy with the result,” Erasmus said. “But we know these things can happen to either side. The main thing for us was to get belief back, and now we need to keep building.”

That building process won’t be easy. Injuries to key players like Lood de Jager and Aphelele Fassi threaten to complicate preparations, while two bruising clashes with Argentina still stand between the Boks and Rugby Championship glory.

Social Media Erupts

Back home, fans flooded social media with memes, celebrations, and raw emotion. “History made in Wellington. The Boks are back where they belong,” one X user wrote. Others drew comparisons to the 57-0 loss years ago, calling Saturday’s win “sweet revenge in green and gold.”

Rugby Twitter lit up with praise for Erasmus’ tactical genius and Kolisi’s leadership. One fan summed it up perfectly: “Rassie gave us belief. Siya gave us heart. The players gave us everything.”

Context And What’s Next

This was the Boks’ third unbeaten Test at Sky Stadium, following a win in 2018 and a draw in 2019. Wellington, it seems, is turning into a second home for South African rugby.

But the Rugby Championship table tells a different story. With all four teams separated by just two points, every slip will matter. Erasmus acknowledged Argentina’s rise as a threat, noting they will be “a well-drilled outfit” in the coming weeks.

The Boks will fly home in the early hours of Sunday and regroup later in the week, their spirits high but their eyes firmly fixed on the bigger picture: holding onto that No. 1 ranking and finishing the Rugby Championship strong.

Source: SABC Sport 

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