Erasmus building depth and experience while keeping an eye on 2027 World Cup
'That said, it doesn't mean those players are the only ones who will be in the mix this year. There are players who are returning from injury within the next few weeks and months and we would like to see some of the players who have been playing well get a chance this season.'
With their opening match of the season against the Barbarians about two weeks away, Erasmus said the focus in the next two weeks and in the match will be to get their structures in place as they prepare for a challenging international season.
'It's difficult to plan around the Barbarians because they are a team consisting of players from many different countries, so our focus in that match will be our game and what we want to achieve,' he said.
'It will serve as a good opportunity for the players who have returned from Japan to get back into the swing of things and perhaps to give a few players who have not played Test rugby a feel of what it is to play at this level.'
Erasmus also gave an injury update that Trevor Nyakane, Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom are nursing long-term injuries.
But Gerhard Steenekamp, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ben-Jason Dixon, Augustus and Lukhanyo Am have to be cleared medically before they will be available for selection.
Jasper Wiese, Grant Williams and Makazole Mapimpi, who are also carrying niggling injuries, are expected to return to action in the coming weeks.
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