After Pretoria nightmare, Coach Rassie Erasmus must now ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’ when it comes to Test selection in 2025.

Some of the Sharks’ Springbok stars were heavily criticised on social media following the United Rugby Championship semi-final defeat to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last weekend.

Centre Lukhanyo Am bore the brunt of the fall-out after he had a nightmare in Pretoria, with a number of uncharacteristic handling errors in particular blighting his performance.

But does that mean that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus must now ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’ when it comes to Test selection in 2025?

In fact, Erasmus has a lot to ponder on during this week’s camp in Johannesburg, as there are still three international seasons to complete before he picks his final squad for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

There is a definite possibility of a Bok ‘Dad’s Army’ rocking up Down Under, and it is something that Erasmus needs to be mindful of over the next few years.

It is not necessarily a bad thing having several experienced campaigners who have won two consecutive World Cups  – like England in their 2003-winning campaign in Australia, and who also made the 2007 final in France – and being loyal to warriors who have produced decisive contributions in the toughest moments over the last six years.

But it is about getting the mix just right between the old dogs and the new young bucks for Australia 2027.

That is perhaps something the Sharks haven’t done over the last few years, as they may have contracted too many top-tier Boks such as Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche all at once.

They can’t be expected to be at their best for virtually 12 months of the year, considering the fact that the Boks start their Test season after the URC, and then go straight into the Rugby Championship – a period that should be their off-season, as the northern-hemisphere players enjoy every year.

But the age of some stalwart Boks can’t be ignored when looking to 2027. Willie le Roux is turning 36 in August and is probably just going to earn a deserved 100th cap before leaving the Test arena.

Makazole Mapimpi will be 35 in July, and even though he’s playing great rugby at the moment, he will be 37 in 2027.