Rassie Erasmus makes it clear: Springboks must back youth now!

03/05/2024 12:21

There will be great expectations when the Springboks – with Rassie Erasmus back at the helm as head coach – return to action with back-to-back Tests against Ireland in July. On either side of the blockbuster games, there will also be one-off game against Wales and Portugal.

It’s certainly during those Test against Wales and Portugal when Erasmus will want to start exposing some newcomers and youngsters to Springbok action.

Ultimately, it’s all about planning for the next four-year World Cup cycle, with the Springbok coach well aware that several World Cup winners will be past their prime by the time 2027 arrives.

"Chasing the Sun is finished, the World Cup is finished," Erasmus commented this week as he received an honorary doctorate from the North-West University (NWU) on Thursday.

"The coaching staff has worked hard. We are definitely going to give younger guys a chance this year. We must remember, in 2020 we did not play rugby due to Covid-19. We couldn't play.

"So, we definitely need to start throwing in younger players."

Rassie Erasmus is taking a long-term view at the Springboks

Theoretically, numerous 2023 World Cup winners could still be part of the picture in four years' time, but the time has also arrived to blood some new talent.

"In 2018 we did a roadmap on the players to look at where they would be in 2019, 2023 and 2027," Erasmus previously explained.

"We know exactly which players we think can last another year and we have given them specific tasks to help the youngsters before they leave here and maybe reach their 100th Test match or a milestone.

"Against Ireland we will still probably use some of those older guys who know them well. The challenge is really to tell the player he must stop now. That's a tough one, because there are some guys in their 30s who see themselves winning another World Cup.

"I don't foresee our age going much over an average of 29 or 30."

LOTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE THE NEXT WORLD CUP CHALLENGE

While several current Springbok players will be well into their thirties by then, there are still many who could still be available in four year's time.

Ages at 2027 RWC of current Springbok backs: 9: Faf de Klerk 35 / Jaden Hendrikse 27 / Grant Williams 31; 10: Handre Pollard 33 / Manie Libbok 30; 11: Cheslin Kolbe 33, 12: Damian de Allende 34 / Andre Esterhuizen 33; 13: Jessse Kriel 33 / Lukhanyo Am 33, Canan Moodie 23; 14: Kurt-Lee Arendse 31; 15: Damian Willemse 29

Out of the running for next RWC in all likelihood: Makazole Mapimpi 37, Cobus Reinach 37, Willie le Roux 38

Ages at 2027 RWC of current Springbok forwards: 1: Steven Kitshoff 35 / Ox Nche 32; 2: Bongi Mbonambi 36 / Malcolm Marx 33, 3: Frans Malherbe 36 / Vincent Koch 37, 4: Eben Etzebeth 35 / RG Snyman 32, 5: Franco Mostert 35 / Jean Kleyn 34 / Marvin Orie 34, 6: Siya Kolisi 36 / Marco van Staden 32, 7: Pieter-Steph du Toit 35 / 8: Jasper Wiese 31 / Kwagga Smith 34

Out of the running for next RWC: Trevor Nyakane 38, Deon Fourie 41, Duane Vermeulen 41.