Reason why people won't 'get out the swords’ for Rassie Erasmus

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus and, inset, legendary retired lock Victor Matfield

Legendary Springboks lock Victor Matfield has explained why Sunday’s shock loss to the Wallabies won’t have South African fans sharpening their swords for Rassie Erasmus.

15 days after defeating the All Blacks in Baltimore to clinch a 3-1 series success in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, a much-changed Springboks XV were ambushed by Australia in Perth.

So troubling was the level of performance that the reigning double world champions trailed 42-17 with 15 minutes remaining, but a late flourish – helped by the farcical situation of the Wallabies having four overlapping yellow cards and playing with just 11 players – saw the margin of defeat reduced to four.