CAPE TOWN- England’s decision to base themselves in Durban this week has surprised Springbok coach Rassie Eramus.
England will face the Springbok in the first test match in Ellis Park Johannesburg on Saturday. England coach Eddie Jones choose instead the east coast which is a sea level rather than the high altitude of the highveld.
Erasmus said of the choice, “We had to make that decision … to fly on the Sunday to the United States or on the Wednesday,”
“We travelled on the Wednesday and you could see in the first half that we were a bit flat, although we tried everything.
“I am surprised that when they (England) could have had the benefit of staying here (Johannesburg) for a week, they have stayed in Durban.
“It’s going to be interesting. Maybe they’ve got other plans of how to tackle the altitude, but normally it catches up with you when you don’t stay at altitude.”
Erasmus also responded to Jones’ comments over the weekend suggesting that he knew exactly what to expect from the Boks.
“If you look at how we played on the weekend then we look very predictable. Hopefully we don’t play like that … that’s not the plan.” Erasmus said.
“Hopefully the conditions at Ellis Park are nice and we get an open game.
“He (Jones) will go back to the way we played at Munster and analyse Jacques’s (Nienaber) defence and he’ll look at (Mzwandile) Stick’s attack and Swys’ (De Bruin) Lions attack.
“That’s just the kind of guy he is … he is very particular about his analysis and he’ll have his ducks in a row.”
Photo Credit- SA Rugbymag
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