Fraser McReight and Joe Schmidt cut happy figures at the post-match presser in Johannesburg, fresh off a historic 38-22 Wallabies win over the Springboks that saw a 62-year drought at Ellis Park end.
Coming back from a 22-0 deficit, the Wallabies head coach lauded the growth of his side, building on the progression from the Autumn Nations Series and the British & Irish Lions tour.
“I think they're actually quite a tight group,” Schmidt said to reporters in the post-match press conference.
“I thought that real collective resilience was evident today, and we're going to need it going forward.
“They're a great bunch of young men and their effort, their ability to roll their sleeves up and earn it, I think they deserve the support that we got in that third test at home, particularly.
“[It’s] hard to come this far around the globe and get the same level of support. I didn't see too much gold there.”
Despite the hostile reception and daunting history, McReight also not only acknowledged the Herculean efforts of Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii and Harry Wilson, but how the side as a collective bounced back, having a hard, honest conversation under the sticks after conceding several early tries.
“I think it was about stepping into contact,” McReight replied when asked about what was discussed.
“Then we came into sheds, got a great message from Joe and from Laurie [Fisher]. It was just honestly about stepping up and getting into that contact and winning the collisions. I think the group responded really well.
“I thought Harry Wilson was outstanding. He, in the first two minutes, took the game on as captain and led from the front.
"[Suaalii] likes to wake up early, do stretching, get mentally right. I thought he was outstanding tonight.
“He brought some big collisions, some big moments. He was outstanding.”
The Wallabies discipline was singled out by the media, with the side conceding only four penalties across the entire match.
However, Schmidt also believed that the Springboks took their foot off the pedal after blitzing the opening 20 minutes, allowing his side to get back into the contest and wrestle back momentum in the first half.
“I've coached enough teams because I'm really old,” Schmidt said with a wry smile.
“I've had teams who got a very, very rapid start. It can sometimes just cause a bit of a lapse in effort and concentration. I think they just gave us a little bit of belief.
“As well as Fraser did and the other players did, we were probably a little bit lucky because Pieter-Steph [du Toit] at one stage just went to pick and go and he just knocked it on.
“There were a couple of uncharacteristic errors from the Springboks, where I think next week, if they pick and go there, he's such a powerful, athletic man, he will be a handful. It was probably a mix of us and a little bit of inaccuracy from the Springboks because when they were accurate, you saw that first 20 minutes.
“I saw wave after wave and even that very first drive was impressive.
“We probably got a little bit lucky, even when Andre [Esterhuizen] went down the left-hand touch a couple of times.
“One of the times, Tom Wright went 70 metres and scored at the other end.
“We were realistic about how we had to hang in there, but I'm really proud of the way we did hang in there.”
The Wallabies will now prepare for a Springbok reply in Cape Town, with several injury clouds hanging around winger Dylan Pietsch and captain Harry Wilson.
“[Pietch’s] jaw came off second best to Sia [Kolisi]'s shoulder,” Schmidt added.
“He looks like he's either badly bruised it or potentially fractured it. We will find out, he's got scans either this evening or tomorrow morning.
“Harry Wilson is a little bit more promising. He just hurt that knee a little bit awkwardly when he got that second try. He will hopefully be okay for next week.”
Despite the growing confidence in the side and the historic win, Schmidt is expecting nothing less than a ruthless response from Rassie Erasmus’ men at DHL Stadium.
“We know that pressure is coming,” Schmidt said.
“I've coached against the Boks with a few other international teams and come out second [best].
“I know whether they're favourites or not, they're a heck of a team.”
