BOKOBOKHOK have strengthened their place at the top of the Nations Championship when they won a difficult game against Scotland with 42-28 in a game that made history for the coach of this national team, Rassie Erasmus, on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria.
This win that Erasmus got with an unusual scheme, not only strengthened the place of the Springboks at the top of the Nations Championship but it was a record-breaking one for this coach who is not a big fan of rugby fans in South Africa.
It was Erasmus’ 55th game on the Springboks bench, which is a record for a coach who has worked for this national team for the longest time since 1891.
The record was held by Jake White who piloted the Fountains 54 times from 2004 to 2007.
Although there was a time when he changed positions, Erasmus has been in training since 2018.
Before the match, the president of the South African Rugby Union (Saru), Mark Alexander, described Erasmus as a hero who will always be remembered for bringing together different races to support their national team.
“Rassie (Erasmus) understood it the first day he was hired and it didn’t take long for him to come up with a strategy to form a team with different races, not only by the color but by what the player does individually when he is on the field.
“It’s no surprise that Erasmus achieved and surpassed this record. He will always be compared to the heroes of South African rugby for not only winning the world title but also defending it,” said Alexander before the game.
Difficulty in both halves of this game since Scotland kept coming back every time the home team tried to lift the game.
It ended up being clear, however, why the Springboks are the world champions and won in the end, the highlight being the try scored by Jesse Kriel in the last minutes.
In a friendly match between the Springboks and Scotland at this stadium, the female Springboks were defeated by the United States of America (USA) 26-19.