[imagesource: Twitter / @PlanetRugby]
Beating the All Blacks anywhere in the world tastes sweet.
I’d say beating England at Twickenham comes third, behind battering them 32-12 in Yokohama.
After just one win from three on our Europen tour, two losses for the SA ‘A’ side, and Rassie Erasmus’ continuous moaning on Twitter, confidence heading into Saturday’s clash with the Poms wasn’t sky-high.
But the Springboks put in a phenomenal and bruising display to beat the English 27-13, with the home side’s only try coming in the final 10 minutes after South Africa had been reduced to 14 men.
There were many standout performances but seeing Faf de Klerk put in another assured stint at scrumhalf bodes well heading into 2023, a World Cup year.
He also managed to get under the skin of a few English players, none more so than Jonny Hill. The lock’s brain fart resulted in a penalty reversal and gave Faf the perfect opportunity to show off his gymnastic prowess:
The flip
The hair flick@fafdeklerk styles it out
#AutumnNationsSeries | @Springboks pic.twitter.com/yRvCW3SPxK
— Autumn Nations Series (@autumnnations) November 28, 2022
Nic White could learn a thing or two from him about handling the physical stuff. The Ozzie number nine would still be rolling on the Twickenham turf.
It’s worth pointing out that Faf also rode off into the sunset like a champ:
Faf de Klerk being Faf de Klerk
#ENGvRSA pic.twitter.com/0DzauTND2L
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) November 27, 2022
It was also pleasing to see the Springboks dominate at scrum time. This was a particularly astonishing shove:
Washing machine? Frog in a liquidiser? The Crumple? I’m going for The Twister! Don’t ever remember seeing anything like this on a rugby field before .. Talk about being owned in a scrum! pic.twitter.com/9PSyfd6H8J
— Front Row Grunt (@FrontRowGrunt) November 28, 2022
I saw someone describe this try as ‘binne, buite, see you later’ and yes, we’ll be watching this one for years to come:
He just cannot stop scoring!
Kurt-Lee Arendse is a superstar
What a try from the @Springboks
#AutumnNationsSeries | #ENGvRSA pic.twitter.com/T75NhKJJoB
— Autumn Nations Series (@autumnnations) November 26, 2022
This is too good not to share:
One from WhatsApp
pic.twitter.com/MlDODhf3b9
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) November 27, 2022
Kurt-Lee Arendse has certainly started his career with aplomb:
Players who have scored in SIX consecutive test matches for the @Springboks
Danie Gerber (‘82-‘84, 10 tries)
Chester Williams (‘94-‘95, 10 tries)
Kurt-Lee Arendse (2022, 7 tries)
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) November 27, 2022
Add Lukhanyo Am returning from injury to that backline and we have some serious X-factor for opposition sides to worry about.
Day 1 121 of 1 449 as world champions.
