The Springboks team, led by Rassie Erasmus, enters the series of matches against the All Blacks with a high level of confidence and freshness. If the Nations Cup can be seen as a kind of dress rehearsal for the upcoming tour of the greatest rugby rivalry (RGR), then Erasmus is pleased that all necessary preparations are complete before the New Zealanders arrive in less than a month.
Despite the Springboks being known for a slow start to the international season, they demonstrated impressive results against England, Scotland, and Wales, averaging 43 points and scoring seven touchdowns per game, all while not playing at full capacity. The team gave the impression that it had a reserve of intensity, and tactically, Erasmus showed the All Blacks' opponent, Dave Rennie, only a small part of his plans for the four-match series.
The Springboks' tactics in the Nations Cup were quite simple, but it is clear that Erasmus has many more hidden tricks. Although fans complained that the team was not playing at its best form, especially against Wales in Durban, these complaints will likely disappear if the Springboks activate their full potential against the All Blacks. The team's ability to perform internally, securing both first place in the Southern conference and overall first place in the 12-team Nations Cup table, testifies to the high level of fitness of the Springboks.
During the tournament, Erasmus made numerous changes to the squad, considering over 67 players, including participants from the SA A and Barbarians matches. Springboks fans got to know many young talents as the coach sought fresh faces to supplement the existing depth of the squad for the RGR tour. Since RGR promises to be extremely physical, injuries are inevitable, and the Nations Cup allowed Erasmus to identify players who could serve as backups.
Rennie's position is significantly different from Erasmus's: Rennie is at the very beginning of his career, whereas the Springboks coach has eight years of experience. In the three matches played by the All Blacks in the Nations Cup, Rennie hardly changed the main squad, trying to quickly establish a game plan. Due to the lack of rotation freedom, Rennie does not have the squad depth of his colleague from the Springboks, which could be a problem in case of multiple injuries during the RGR.
Rennie used the same combination of halfback and playmaker, Cam Rogers and Ruben Law, in all three matches. Meanwhile, Erasmus started the campaign with Grant Williams and Mani Leibobok, then switched to Embros Papier and Hendrie Pollard, and concluded it with Kobus Reinach and Wusi Moyo. An additional advantage for the Springboks was participating in the Nations Cup without many highly experienced players who have now recovered from injuries and are ready to take the field this week in Buenos Aires against the Pumas. It should be noted that the Springboks finished first in the Nations Cup without using Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Morne van der Merwe, Luda de Jager, and Saccha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, while Andre Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker played only a few minutes before sustaining injuries (they are now fit to play).
Interestingly, Erasmus used 33 different players in his three starting lineups. Only five players—Peter-Steph du Toit, Paul de Villiers, Jesse Kriel, Ben-Jason Dixon, and Damian Willemse—participated in all three matches. Player workload was additionally controlled by limiting time spent on the field. Du Toit and Kriel were the only players who started and finished all three encounters.
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has presented a list of 43 players who will gather in Johannesburg. This squad is intended to prepare for the upcoming match against Argentina in Buenos Aires on August 8th, as well as for the series of 'Rugby Greatest Rivalry' (RGR) matches against New Zealand.
As part of tactical division, Erasmus decided to send five players to their home clubs so they can gain game experience during friendly matches against touring All Blacks. Simultaneously, ten experienced Springboks players have returned from the injured list.
Among the high-profile players returning from injuries are props Eben Etzebeth and Luke de Jager, versatile forward Franco Mostert, captain Siya Kolisi, midfielders Sacha Phelenberg-Mngomezulu and Handre Pollard, versatile back-rowers Ethan Hooker and Keenan Moody, centre/flanker Andre Esterhuizen, and midfielder Morne van den Berg.
Meanwhile, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Winter, Embrose Papier, and Jaco Williams have been released to play for their clubs. Prop Ruben van Heerden, who debuted for the national team against Wales last Saturday, was excluded from the main squad to allow him to adapt at his new French club Montpellier, although he remains in reserve.
Erasmus emphasized that the decision to split the group was made after careful consideration to give every player a chance to prove themselves before the RGR series. He noted that splitting into two groups would be the best option for the Springboks team and the athletes themselves, allowing them to earn a spot in the squad.
The coach added that some players are recovering from injuries and need valuable game time. Therefore, the selection of participants for the trip to Argentina will depend on their progress during next week's training camp. The remaining players from the 43-man squad will stay in Johannesburg with the coaching staff to begin preparations for the matches against New Zealand.
Erasmus stressed that this arrangement benefits all parties. Players sent to their clubs will get the opportunity to face the All Blacks in relevant mid-week matches, which will be invaluable experience when forming the final squad for the RGR. Thus, it is viewed as a 'win-win' situation.
He also explained that since the number of players who can go to Argentina is limited, it is fair to give everyone equal chances. Some players training in Johannesburg will complete their recovery phase under the supervision of the medical team, while others, who have played a lot of rugby, need a break to recover their bodies.
Looking ahead to the confrontation in South America, Erasmus warned against underestimating the Los Pumas team. He noted that they are a quality team that has proven its capability in previous encounters. Furthermore, he reminded that Los Pumas defeated them in Argentina the last time they met there in 2024, so the team intends to send a strong contingent to Buenos Aires.
Currently, the Springboks are resting with their families before gathering in Johannesburg on Sunday. The group traveling to Argentina will fly out in two waves next Sunday and Monday.
All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick believes that Rassie Erasmus's greatest achievement is creating an unprecedented depth of squad within the Springboks. He compared the current two-time World Rugby Champions from South Africa with the iconic New Zealand team of 2015.
Fitzpatrick noted that while winning two consecutive World Cups is highly significant, Erasmus's true accomplishment lies in fostering an extremely competitive atmosphere within the team. The All Blacks legend emphasized that players at the highest level discuss this competition.
Under Erasmus, the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023. Ahead of the next major tournament, South Africa is again considered one of the main favorites to retain the Webb Ellis Cup. However, they face their main rivals—the All Blacks, who achieved similar success in 2011 and 2015.
Fitzpatrick explained Erasmus's success by citing the 2015 team, which defeated Australia in the final. He stated that one could field another 15 players in the same positions in that team and still remain clear favorites. Such a level of squad depth, according to Fitzpatrick, was astonishingly realized by Rassie.
Comparing the current Springboks squad to the 2015 All Blacks team is a huge compliment, as the New Zealand team is considered one of the greatest in rugby history. Meanwhile, the All Blacks are undergoing a period of transformation following the appointment of Dave Rennie as head coach.
Fitzpatrick noted that Dave Rennie's primary task is to recreate that same fierce competition. He added that it is important to have several players constantly competing against each other for highly contested positions, regardless of the weekly match result.
The dominance of powerful Southern Hemisphere teams remains a defining characteristic of the sport. Since England's victory in 2003, New Zealand and South Africa have won all the World Cups against each other. Even despite Ireland's impressive rise as a global power in recent years, the Irish have yet to advance past the quarter-finals of the tournament.
The South African rugby coach, Rassie Erasmus, confirmed his promise by including four players who had not previously played for the national team in the confrontation with Wales in Durban this Saturday. Among these players are 20-year-old home-field playmaker Wuse Moyo and powerful scrummer Carlu Seydi, demonstrating the readiness of a new generation of South African talents.
Senior players Ruben van Heerden and Carlu Seydi, along with young players Jaco Williams and Wuse Moyo, were included in the squad of the experienced South African national team, which is expected to have sufficient strength to play against Wales at Kings Park stadium (the match starts at 17:40). Erasmus noted that the team provided opportunities to players from the start of preparations before the match against the Barbarians, and now those who were in the camp for seven weeks are getting a chance by helping the national team in test matches.
The coach also reported that some players, including Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, and Luuid de Jager, are in the group with minor injuries. Logically, they should be rested for next week, and a suitable game for them will be the away friendly against Argentina scheduled for August 8th.
Moyo, the playmaker from the Sharks, debuts for the South African national team at home and will play alongside experienced Kobus Reinach. Erasmus emphasized Moyo's unique qualities, noting that despite his age (20 years), he is a large player who is not afraid of the physical aspect of the game. He also described Moyo as a calm player with soft hands who kicks the ball excellently, whether it is repeats, touches, or attempts at the posts, although he has no experience in a test match yet.
Regarding Williams, Moyo's teammate, Erasmus stated that Jaco, being a graduate of the junior national team, has shown that besides speed, he also possesses physical strength. At 21 years old and not having a large build, he demonstrates a combination of power, speed, and 'X-factor'.
Ruben van Heerden, a 28-year-old second-row player, has long awaited his debut for the South African national team. Erasmus expressed happiness about his inclusion, noting that there have been instances in the past where players in the camp did not get a chance due to the coach's nervousness or circumstances. Van Heerden demonstrated excellent play in the scrums last year against the Barbarians. This year he was selected to participate in the Barbarians match but declined, preferring to play for the SA A team. The coach noted that his recognition is deserved because he prepared the players participating in the test matches for seven weeks, and that they do not give 'caps' away for free, considering that Ruan (Northje) also needs rest after playing many matches.
Carlu Seydi, a 29-year-old player, has also long remained on the verge of a debut. Erasmus explained that Seydi played for the Bordeaux team that won the Champions Cup, and it is impossible to start in such a team if one cannot play effectively in the scrum. The presence of Seydi and Wilko Lou in the team is beneficial for hooker Johan Grobbelaar, as he has good scrummers available.
