Boks chase Wallabies after Rassie’s 100th Test
CCN Sport Reporter – George C April
CAPE TOWN:- Fresh from a 3–1 series win over the All Blacks and with coach Rassie Erasmus marking his 100th Test in charge of the Springboks, South Africa now turn their attention to a one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth.
PICTURE: Siya Kolisi (Sprinbok Captain) and Rassie Erasmus (Springbok Coach)
The world champions face Australia at Optus Stadium on Sunday 27 September (kick-off 11:30 SA time / 17:30 local). It is a standalone fixture after Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series and before the Nations Championship swing through Italy, France and Ireland.
Erasmus reached the century mark in Baltimore on 12 September, when the Boks won 43–28 to take the series 3-1. He has overseen 60 Tests as head coach and 39 as director of rugby since 2018. In that stretch the Boks have two World Cups, a Lions series win and multiple Rugby Championship titles.
The celebration came with clippers.
After the Baltimore win, Erasmus, captain Siya Kolisi, scrum coach Daan Human and most of the management team, including media manager Zeena Isaacs – appeared with freshly shaved heads. Erasmus posted photos with the captions “the prize of a bet” and “reëls is reëls” (rules are rules). Kolisi wrote: “Special day for the boss @rasrugby 100 up. Danko coach, iyabulela ilali #bleskop.”
The exact wager has not been confirmed.
After the opening 33-16 loss at Ellis Park, Erasmus said there was “a way out” if they won the next three Tests, something last done against New Zealand in 2009. They did exactly that. Whether the bet was on three straight wins, the series, or the 100th Test, the whole inner circle paid up together.
A largely rotated squad is expected in Perth so senior players can recover before the November tour.
The Wallabies, now under Les Kiss, have had mixed results but remain a dangerous home side. Last year’s meetings saw Australia stun the Boks at Ellis Park before South Africa answered in Cape Town.
For West Coast and Cape readers, the story is simple: the same group that just shaved their heads in Baltimore is packing for Australia.
