Rassie Erasmus hosted his first Springboks alignment camp for the year, but it was as much one of enlightenment for the South African media and public as it was aligning for the players.
The coach was generous with his time in discussing an international season of 15 Test matches and a historic first Springboks match against the famed Barbarians FC in South Africa.
The Barbarians match is a warm-up to the two-Test series against Italy, which precedes the Rugby Championship. The Boks travel to New Zealand for back-to-back Tests, the first at Eden Park in Auckland on September 6.
The Boks have not won at Eden Park since 1937 and the All Blacks last lost at Eden Park in 1994, in the final play of the Test against France. I was privileged to be in the press box on that Saturday afternoon when France scored the try “from the other end of the earth”. The All Blacks have not lost in 50 Tests since that defeat.
Erasmus, as he did with a seven-one forward-dominated impact bench, continues to lead in innovation
Erasmus spoke with enthusiasm about the challenge of successive Tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand and about playing France in Paris and Ireland in Dublin a week apart. He also confirmed there would be two additional Test matches to the scheduled 13 and a Barbarians non-international. He wanted 15 Tests, against the best, and he described the season as ideal in the Springboks’ preparations for their 2027 World Cup defence in Australia.
Erasmus and the senior Bok players have not shied away from detailing their ambition to be the first team to win the World Cup three times in succession and extend their World Cup gold collection to five. New Zealand have won three golds, Australia have two and England is the only northern hemisphere team to win the World Cup.
Erasmus addressed all questions: Siya Kolisi, if fit and in form, will captain the Boks in 2025. He was straight to the point: Why change what is working? He made it clear that preparing for the 2027 World Cup did not mean sacrificing anything in 2025 and 2026.
He declared that if a player was the best in 2025 and 2026, but because of age would not likely make it to the latter part of 2027 for the World Cup in Australia, it did not mean he would not be selected in 2025 and 2026. The best will always be picked, he said.
Age just a number
Erasmus identified Deon Fourie as just one example of a player who remained part of the Bok plans, despite being closer to 40 than 30. Age is a number for Erasmus and it will never be a restriction for a player. Whether the individual is 19 or 39, if he adds a piece to a winning Boks puzzle, he will be selected.
Fourie, a specialist flanker who plays to the ball, is as capable at playing hooker — and he did the job for the Boks for the final 77 minutes of the 12-11 World Cup final win against the All Blacks in Paris.
Erasmus is not discarding any player for 2025, and all assessments of players will be done match for match and season for season.
Eben Etzebeth, having not played for the Sharks since December 2024 because of recurring concussion issues, remains an integral part of the Springboks 2025 season. Erasmus said Etzebeth would be ready to add to his record number of Test appearances.
He also gave hope to every one of the 80-plus players invited to the alignment camps, be it in person or online. If they are in the group, they are in with a chance of playing.
Erasmus, as he did with a seven-one, forward-dominated impact bench, continues to lead in innovation. He is redefining how to approach a four-year World Cup cycle, emphasising that the three years before the World Cup year determines much of that World Cup year.
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