Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has again emphasised what motivates the team following the Boks' 43-28 victory over New Zealand in Baltimore: to make South Africans happy.
The Springboks scored six tries against the All Blacks' four to clinch the first Castle Double Malt Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series with a 3-1 result.
Rassie Erasmus surprises with support in Baltimore
A total of 68,173 spectators attended the match at the M&T Bank Stadium – a North American rugby record – with a large portion of the crowd made up of South African supporters.
"It was incredible to see so many South Africans here. I don't know how they afforded it or how they got here, but it's wonderful," Erasmus said.
However, he emphasised that the team also thinks of supporters at home.
"We appreciate the people who were here, but we don't forget the people at home – the people on the farm, the boy in the township or the people in the shopping centre. That's what drives us."
Motivation extends beyond the result
Erasmus said that although victories are important, the Springboks' motivation extends beyond just the result.
"We naturally want to win and it's wonderful for us as a team – that's why we play rugby – but we want them to be happy."
The series victory follows the All Blacks' opening test win at Ellis Park 33-16. The Springboks then struck back with 33-26 in Cape Town and 29-24 at FNB Stadium before they settled the series in Baltimore.
Also read: Springboks determined to make SA proud in series decider
Source: SA Rugby
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
