No experiments for Springboks in tough 2026, says Erasmus

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said on Monday he would seek more consistency in selection in a challenging year ahead for the Rugby World Cup holders.

After a non-cap match against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on June 20, the Springboks are set to face England, Wales and Scotland at home in the new Nations Championship.

They will then play four Tests against the New Zealand All Blacks in a series being billed as “The Greatest Rivalry”.

After three Tests in South Africa, the series will finish with a match in the US city of Baltimore.

After a match against Australia in Perth the Springboks will complete their Nations Championship fixtures when they play France, Ireland and Italy on their end-of-year northern hemisphere tour.

Given the nature of their fixtures, Erasmus said there would probably be less experimentation than there was in 2025.

Last year there was an emphasis on building depth with a view to defending their world title in Australia next year.

“We averaged nine changes per game last year, so we’re not under pressure to experiment,” he said.

But he said it was still necessary to ensure there was enough depth in each position.

“Depth is crucial,” he said. “You might lose four or five players in one position. Succession planning is key. Eighteen months out from a World Cup you should know who is likely to make it and who isn’t.”

Erasmus was speaking at a press conference ahead of the first Springbok alignment camp of the year, starting in Cape Town on Tuesday.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.