Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has emphasised that careful planning and innovative thinking will be crucial as South Africa embarks on a demanding 18-month build-up to next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The national side begins its campaign in July with the inaugural Nations Championship, followed by a historic four-match series against arch-rivals New Zealand starting in August. With players competing across various domestic and international competitions, Erasmus said managing workloads and building squad depth will be a key focus.
“We would like to make sure that we have sufficient squad depth and quality experience in the team,” Erasmus explained. He added that the opening clash against England will set the tone for the season.
“First up is England, which is going to be a tough one. They’ve won 10 games in a row. So, we will obviously go out with a mindset of wanting to win every single match, but I think we’ll have to adapt. It’s a bit of a juggling act.”
Erasmus also addressed uncertainty within his coaching set-up. He admitted that he does not know whether attacking coach Tony Brown will remain with the Springboks beyond the World Cup. Recent changes in the All Blacks’ coaching structure have linked Brown with a possible return to New Zealand.
Erasmus said continuity remains important, particularly after previously losing Jacques Nienaber to Leinster. He confirmed that he had sought long-term commitment from his coaching team and emphasised that, for now, Brown remains fully committed to the Springbok project as preparations intensify.
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Photo: X/ @Springboks
