The head coach reacted to the defeat at Ellis Park by overhauling his replacement bench while bringing in Ethan Hooker on the wing when it looked as if Cheslin Kolbe wouldn’t be available for selection.
The Bok coach named an otherwise unchanged starting XV for the decisive Rugby Championship encounter, with Cheslin Kolbe moving from wing to fullback following Damian Willemse’s injury, while Kurt-Lee Arendse returns on the wing in Kolbe’s place.
The Springboks were pushed hard by the All Blacks in the opening Test before eventually securing a narrow victory, and Erasmus believes retaining the same core group will allow his players to build on what they learned from that encounter.
“The nice thing is they would have experienced the things that New Zealand do really well and where they caught us out, and they would have experienced where we put them under pressure and what worked for us,” Erasmus said.
“That’s a plus. Secondly, continuity and combinations worked well. Obviously, we’ve always chopped and changed, but at some stage you must consolidate a little bit because you know enough about the other players who have played.”
The second Test could have major implications for the series, with Erasmus acknowledging the importance of the contest as the Springboks look to build on their advantage.
“We feel this is the time because this is probably the current match to decide: can you draw it, are you out of it, or can you win it and take it into the next game?” he said.
Erasmus also acknowledged that the match carries added significance because it will be the Springboks’ final Test of the year on home soil in front of their supporters.
He wants the team to give the fans something to celebrate, but insisted emotion cannot come at the expense of their preparation.
“I think it’s wanting to say goodbye and thank you. Normally, a win is the best way to do that,” Erasmus said.
“But it doesn’t change how we clearly think about how we do our things. We analyse each department, see where we can get better, where we have to stop them and where we can punish them.”
The Springboks coach said his team must balance the intensity of the occasion with the discipline required to beat New Zealand.
“To beat New Zealand, we must have fire in the belly, but ice in the brain,” he said.
Erasmus also admitted the Springboks are still searching for a full 80-minute performance, suggesting that continuity in selection could help address that issue.
“I do think that’s one of our problems currently, and maybe the continuity in the team selection might help with that,” he said.
And while the All Blacks will be desperate to respond, Erasmus believes the Springboks are equally motivated to finish their home campaign strongly.
“Of course, we didn’t play perfectly, but we got better in a lot of areas,” he said. “Now they’ll be hell of a desperate, but we’re as desperate for our last game at home.
“We’re busy fixing the stuff that was bad and trying to amplify the stuff that was good.”
Erasmus drew attention in Cape Town last week looking especially dapper and wearing a tie, and revealed his attire had become something of a Springbok superstition.
It began several years ago when he would wear a suit and tie for particularly important Tests, signalling to the players that he was taking the occasion especially seriously.
“It became a little bit of a tradition where they would ask me, ‘Wear your number ones this weekend too. We’re going to need that,’” Erasmus said.
“So, I’m a little bit superstitious.”
