The Springboks opened their Castle Lager Outgoing Tour with a commanding 32-15 win over Scotland in Edinburgh, but head coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Eben Etzebeth acknowledged the victory wasn’t as seamless as the scoreboard might suggest. Despite the 17-point margin, both leaders admitted there’s still work to be done to bring the team into perfect harmony as they look to deepen squad depth and refine on-field cohesion.

The Springboks scored four tries, a testament to their offensive capabilities, while Scotland’s points came exclusively from penalty goals. Erasmus was pleased with the defensive resilience that saw his team keep the Scots tryless for the second consecutive game, yet he noted that the game wasn’t as one-sided as it appeared.

“The scoreboard doesn’t tell the whole story, but we can be proud of the fact that we didn’t concede a try,” Erasmus said. “We had to work hard for this result, and while winning by 17 points away from home is something to celebrate, we still have a lot to work on, especially in terms of syncing better on the field.”

Erasmus stressed that while the team’s effort was commendable, refining their play under pressure and being prepared for unexpected injuries remains a top priority. With a focus on strengthening their internal coordination, Erasmus hopes the team can build on this performance and iron out the rough edges as they progress through the tour.

Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth shared his coach’s sentiments, emphasizing that Scotland, ranked seventh in the world, presented a tough challenge. “We knew from the outset that Scotland are a quality team, one of the best in the world,” Etzebeth said. “I think the scoreline flatters us a bit. We expected a tough, grinding match, and credit to them—they made us work hard.”

The Springboks now set their sights on a high-stakes encounter against England at London’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday. Erasmus acknowledged that this next game would be “a different challenge altogether,” with England desperate for a victory after two narrow losses in their recent matches.

As the Springboks travel from Edinburgh to London, they’ll commence preparations for what promises to be an intense test against a determined English side.
[Submitted by Kevin Rademeyer]