All Blacks captain Sam Cane said the 35-23 win over South Africa in the second Rugby Championship Test was "massively satisfying." Cane said he felt emotional when the final whistle blew at Ellis Park.
"I knew how much it meant to me, but it all hit me at once, the enormity of the occasion, the pressure and the fact we got it done and I had a lot of pride."
That was because of the comments fired at the side after their three consecutive losses this year.
"Playing South Africa at Ellis Park in a one-off fixture itself is a massive challenge, yet what we've been through in the last month in terms of not performing where we wanted to be. So, to be able to deliver in a big, pressure occasion is massively satisfying."
He said the performance of the newcomers in the front row, in what was the biggest Test in their careers, was awesome. He was delighted for them and for the competition that would create within the side in the future.
The composure the team showed when South Africa claimed the lead for the first time in the 66th minute, with replacement fullback Beauden Barrett just having been sent to the sin-bin, was pleasing, he said.
There had been times in the last month when that had not happened. But on Saturday, it demonstrated the strength of the belief within the side.
"To be able to make so many improvements in the last two weeks is pleasing, and the challenge will be to continue that improvement and put in a good one back home.
