Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has hailed their 43-10 win over the All Blacks in Wellington as "one of the most historic wins in Bok rugby'. The result, which is now the heaviest defeat the All Blacks have suffered in their 141 year history, has sent shockwaves around the rugby world and surprised even the most one-eyed South African fans.
"There was just no aspect of our game that was poor," said Mallett to South African journalists Brendan Nel and Gavin Rich.
"We were just outstanding in terms of intensity, in terms of defensive, work rate, in terms of aerial, domination, winning the kicking game. We got across the advantage line, with, with our ball carries and we took opportunities in that second half."
That second half scoreline makes for horrific reading for the All Blacks, as they were outscored 36-0 with the Springboks crossing for five tries.
Rassie Erasmus with Naas Botha and Nick Mallett during the 2018 Rugby Championship. Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
"I just thought that we completely and utterly dominated what has been a very efficient All Black side up until now. And with a team…that certainly had an unbelievable skill set."
Mallett's sentiments on just how important the win is was shared by one of the players who played a significant role in it. Damian Willemse, whose 60th minute try was the start of the Springboks' march to victory, compared the win to the biggest stage of all.
"I don't want to sound cocky or anything, but this was almost up there with a World Cup final," he said after the game.
"Three in a row now at Wellington, this is a big one, a really, really big one for us."
Damian Willemse scores against the All Blacks. Photo: Marty Melville/Photosport
Willemse can now boast a test win in Wellington, something Mallett does know a thing or two as well. He coached the Springboks to a famous 13-3 victory at Athletic Park in 1998, one of 17 in a row achieved by his side which at the time was a joint test record.
He praised present coach Rassie Erasmus for sticking to his guns on selections, with a clear plan in mind for developing players for the next World Cup. Erasmus changed almost his entire backline from the one that lost to the All Blacks at Eden Park last weekend, then said that that he would've done so regardless of the result to give players a taste of what should've been the biggest challenge in world rugby.
Mallett said it showed that it not only did that but also prolonged the careers of more experienced players.
"(Erasmus) hasn't moved away from what he said he was going to do. But what's extraordinary is that if you said six months ago that we'd play New Zealand without Eben Etzebeth, Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, Jesse Kriel - all double World Cup winners - most would've said that's very risky. But not on the evidence of what he'd seen at training and what he knows of the talents."
The Springboks now head back to play Argentina in Durban on 27 September, the same day the All Blacks host the Wallabies at Eden Park in the first Bledisloe Cup test of the year. This year's Rugby Championship is now wide open with all teams having a two win, two loss record with two rounds to play.
