Rassie Erasmus backed Joe Schmidt to guide Australia into subsequent 12 months’s high-profile Check sequence in opposition to the British and Irish Lions, dwell on Sky Sports activities, regardless of making a blended begin to his tenure with the Wallabies.
Erasmus’ South Africa handed Australia a 30-12 defeat on Saturday in Perth as Schmidt endured a second loss in 5 matches since changing Eddie Jones.
However whereas Australia’s file up to now has raised questions over their hopes of success in opposition to the Lions, Erasmus dismissed issues that the Wallabies wouldn’t be prepared for his or her high-profile guests subsequent 12 months.
“A week in rugby is long,” mentioned Erasmus. “We saw New Zealand losing to Argentina [last week] and now have given them a proper hiding.
“You possibly can’t take out the actual fact there are key gamers injured, you’ll be able to’t take out the actual fact there’s new teaching employees. The Lions are solely subsequent 12 months.
“You [have to] get the right people on board, which I think Joe is, and you get the right players on board. I do think they’ll be competitive with Joe Schmidt as their coach.”
Joe Schmidt has overseen two poor Australia performances in Rugby Championship defeats to South Africa this month
Whereas Erasmus gave Schmidt his backing, the Springboks coach believes his personal facet’s upcoming Rugby Championship Exams in opposition to New Zealand in South Africa will present his staff with a higher problem than their match-ups with Australia.
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Watch highlights of the Rugby Championship match between New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina Pumas
South Africa comfortably received each fixtures and can face the All Blacks in Johannesburg and Cape City after Scott Robertson’s facet bounced again from a gap loss in opposition to Argentina to defeat the Pumas 42-10 in Auckland on Saturday.
“It’s another step up, just because Joe Schmidt is new in the role here and he has to find his feet and get to know all the players and how Australian rugby works,” mentioned Erasmus. “It takes a while.
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has backed Schmidt to show issues round with Australia in time for subsequent summer season’s Lions sequence
“It will be a much tougher challenge [against New Zealand], and that’s no disrespect to Australia, it’s just because of where Australia currently are and they’re in a rebuilding phase.
“The All Blacks, I noticed final week once they misplaced, lots of people had lots of stuff to say, however they knuckled down and mentioned they’d present you guys right this moment. They acquired correct factors on in opposition to Argentina.
“We play them at altitude and then in Cape Town. It’s almost a mini-series against the All Blacks and we’re in for a tough two weeks.”
What’s subsequent?
World No 1-ranked South Africa subsequent host New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday August 31, dwell on Sky Sports activities (4pm kick-off).
Australia journey to play Argentina in spherical three of the Rugby Championship, additionally on Saturday August 31, dwell on Sky Sports activities (11pm kick-off).
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and will likely be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this 12 months at no further price. Discover out extra right here.
