Erasmus banks on experience for crucial New Zealand tour

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has opted for continuity as South Africa prepares for a challenging two-Test tour of New Zealand in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship next month.

Erasmus has retained 36 of the 38 players who featured in the opening two matches against Australia, signalling faith in the group that delivered a solid start to their title defence. The Boks will face the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, 6 September, before heading to Sky Stadium in Wellington for the second clash a week later on 13 September.

With wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe sidelined by injury, Makazole Mapimpi, who rejoined the squad in Cape Town last week, will bolster the backline. Utility forward Cobus Wiese has been placed on standby, while No. 8 Jasper Wiese remains suspended and will only be available for the Wellington encounter.

“This group of players have been working hard together since our first training camp in June, and most of them have been playing together for years,” said Erasmus. “The newer players have shown in the Castle Lager Incoming Series and the two matches against Australia that they are ready for this challenge. Siya (Kolisi), Pieter-Steph (du Toit), Willie (le Roux), and Jan-Hendrik (Wessels) have been medically cleared of their niggles, and all who played against Australia are fit to face the All Blacks.”

Erasmus acknowledged the magnitude of the task awaiting his side but expressed confidence in their preparation.

“The Castle Lager Rugby Championship is still wide open, with all four teams having won a match in the first two rounds,” he said. “Facing the All Blacks in New Zealand is always a massive challenge, but this team knows what is at stake. We learnt valuable lessons from our first game against Australia, and we know exactly what we have to do to improve as the competition progresses.”

The Springboks head into the tour with recent success over New Zealand, having beaten them in their last four encounters, a feat achieved only once before in history. However, Erasmus insisted that past results would not distract them from the challenge ahead.

“We are under no illusions that both games will be huge,” he added. “Every Test against the All Blacks is epic, and this rivalry brings out the best in both teams. We’ve prepared well and will have enough time to acclimatise to New Zealand’s conditions before the first Test.”

Both Tests kick off at 09h05 (SA time), with the Boks aiming to strengthen their position in the competition they last won in 2019.

Springbok Squad for the New Zealand Tests:

Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Jasper Wiese.

Backs: Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse.