Rassie Erasmus, the Springbok head coach, has spilled the beans on his plans for the team. He addressed concerns about the depth at lock and hooker positions, looking ahead to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. While the Springboks have been busy touring the country with their World Cup trophy, Erasmus has been quietly working behind the scenes, already plotting for a potential three-peat in 2027. Unfortunately, his right-hand man Jacques Nienaber has left his role as head coach to join Leinster in Ireland. In a recent interview, Erasmus admitted that Nienaber’s departure leaves a big gap, but he believes that no one is irreplaceable. As a result, Erasmus will take on the responsibilities of head coach for the foreseeable future, just as he did when he led the Boks to victory in the 2019 World Cup.
During the interview, Erasmus expressed his concerns about the depth of talent in key positions, particularly lock and hooker. Eben Etzebeth, the formidable lock who has been a force for the Boks for the past decade, will be 37 years old in 2027. Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman from Munster, as well as Franco Mostert, will also be in their 30s by then. Erasmus questioned whether Etzebeth still has what it takes to compete in another World Cup. He also mentioned that the team might be lacking options at hooker.
Looking ahead, Erasmus highlighted the potential of young players like Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu from the Stormers and Curwin Bosch from the Sharks to provide competition at flyhalf. Manie Libbok was also mentioned as a promising player in this position. It’s clear that Erasmus is already thinking about the future and how to ensure the Springboks remain a dominant force in international rugby.
In conclusion, Rassie Erasmus is back as the Springbok head coach and has set his sights on the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Despite the departure of Jacques Nienaber, Erasmus is confident in his ability to lead the team to further success. He acknowledges the need to strengthen the depth at lock and hooker positions and is keeping an eye on young talents who could make an impact in the future. The Springboks are in good hands with Erasmus at the helm, and fans can look forward to more thrilling rugby in the years to come.