South Africa’s 43–10 humiliation of the All Blacks in Wellington will be remembered not only for its size, but for the symbolism.
In a stadium where the ghosts of 2018 and 2019 already linger, a victory and a draw, the Springboks turned Sky Stadium, better known as the Cake Tin into something resembling a second home, a place where green jerseys find their rhythm and black ones falter.
For the All Blacks, the scoreboard cut like a knife through myth: their heaviest defeat in Test history.
For the Springboks, it was more about another beam laid in a structure Bok coach Rassie Erasmus insists is still under construction.
“We’ve achieved nothing,” the coach reminded, pouring cold water on any champagne bubbles.
Reaction from Rassie Erasmus: “We’ve achieved nothing – everyone is still in the competition, and we will still have to face a well-drilled Argentina outfit in the next few weeks” 🗣#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #NZLvRSA
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 13, 2025
Power in Preparation
What stood out wasn’t just the muscle of the Bok pack or the razor finishes in the wide channels, but the sense of a squad in full chorus.
Players who hadn’t featured much were given centre stage, and rather than faltering, they sang in harmony. It was proof that South Africa’s depth is not just a safety net but a launchpad.
Erasmus highlighted the invisible labour behind the scenes: the “dirt-trackers” in training who sharpen the edge of those who step onto the field. In rugby parlance, it was the bench press behind the big hit, the unseen scrum before the match-day shove.
Kolisi’s Compass
Captain Siya Kolisi was the compass at the centre of the storm. His message was clear: belief, structure, and freedom in equal measure.
The coaches loosened the reins, telling the players not to fear mistakes, and the result was a team galloping rather than grinding
Kolisi himself credited the blend of veterans and newer faces, calling it the glue that bound the team tight.
A Cautionary Note
Yet for all the champagne rugby on display, Erasmus’ pragmatism loomed. He knows rugby is less a sprint than a marathon up a muddy hill.
Argentina waits in Durban and London, their scalps of Australia a reminder that Los Pumas carry more bite than bark. Erasmus’ refrain:
“We’ve achieved nothing” was not false modesty but tactical discipline.
A 43–10 scoreline may turn heads, but in a Rugby Championship that punishes complacency, the next kick-off always matters more than the last final whistle.
The Bigger Picture
This win nudged the Springboks back to No. 1 in the world, restored the Freedom Cup to its cabinet, and reshaped the balance of power in the southern hemisphere
But if history teaches anything, it’s that momentum is slippery. The All Blacks, stung and scarred, rarely lick wounds for long. They will circle back.
For now, the Springboks can enjoy their Wellington waltz, a night when the haka met an immovable wall of green.
But in Erasmus’ playbook, the past is always prologue, and the real work begins again when Argentina appear on the horizon.
