Coach Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks won’t stop innovating and will be trying a few things during the upcoming Rugby Championship
Coach Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks won’t stop innovating and will be trying a few things during the upcoming Rugby Championship.
You’ve got to keep innovating. We’ve got one or two more plans and ideas up our sleeves. Opposition teams now know what we’re about and are developing systems to counter us. We’ll also definitely still use Andre Esterhuizen to continue in that hybrid role.” said Rassie.
Erasmus spoke to the media on Tuesday, giving an update on the Bok training and conditioning camp currently under way in Johannesburg. The Bok mentor has cut down his squad to 37 players for the opening two home Tests against the Wallabies at Ellis Park and Cape Town Stadium on August the 16th and 23rd and says everyone has a clean bill of health apart from two players dealing with small niggles.
“Canan Moodie had a small hand niggle, like an infection, but he’s already back training with us. Cheslin [Kolbe] has a knee, but he should be training with us again from Monday.”
Erasmus has also roped in three championship-winning Junior Springboks – Haashim Pead, Cheswill Jooste and Bathobebele Hlekani to be part of the camp as well, and he’s been proud of how they’ve trained so far.
“With them, we’re looking at possibilities for the 2027 World Cup. They won’t play Test matches this year, and they know that. It’s just to see how quickly the young guys adapt to our environment, and to take part in every session. We did the same with Ntokozo [Makhaza]. They are doing well and keeping up.”
The Bok coach says while he’s largely satisfied with how the Test season started, he says there are still a few aspects of their game need fixing.
“We’ve got to be careful. We’re facing an Australian side that will have more rounded players, and who play with greater intensity. After the British & Irish Lions series, whether it’s 3-0 or 2-1, they’ll be battle-ready. A really competitive Australian team will come here and we can’t underestimate them.”
