Latest news with #RassieErasmus'
IOL News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Wallabies have Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus' full attention after Lions Tests
SPRINGBOK coach Rassie Erasmus put his players through their paces ahead of the Rugby Championship matches against the Wallabies. Image: Backpagepix WHILE the Springboks' match against the All Blacks at Eden Park is seen as the biggest clash of this year's Rugby Championship, coach Rassie Erasmus' sights are firmly set on their upcoming assignment against the Wallabies. The Springboks have a chance to make history against the All Blacks in Auckland on September 6. The New Zealanders haven't lost at the famous ground since that remarkable Test against the French in 1994, which featured 'the try from the end of the world'. Many pundits believe that this bunch of Springboks could be the ones to do the business at Eden Park. However, the chance to re-rewrite the history books is far from his mind. Instead, it's the Wallabies who occupy his thoughts if yesterday's press conference and his activity on the social media site 'X' is anything to go by. The Wallabies' 'X' page is currently the only account that the Bok coach is following, while he also revealed that he picked Australia to beat the British and Irish Lions in the second Test in Melbourne this past weekend. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ However, the Wallabies lost that Test and ultimately the series after the touring side scored a late try to win at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was a much-improved performance from the Wallabies, after also suffering defeat in the first Test. But this time around they took the game to the Lions, especially in the collisions. The Wallabies really showed up in the physical stakes, with returning lock Will Skelton and No 8 Rob Valetini making a big impact in the first half against the touring team. 'We are always careful about the opposition in the Rugby Championship,' said Erasmus. 'Australia showed last weekend that they have what it takes to win a match against a team like the British and Irish Lions, and they have an opportunity to try to achieve that this weekend, so we are expecting tough battles against them, as well as New Zealand and Argentina.' Meanwhile, Erasmus cut short the Springboks holiday after the three home Test matches against Italy and Georgia to start preparations for the Rugby Championship with a more streamlined squad. Erasmus and his staff has close to 50 players in camp for the the two-Test series against Italy and the one-off match against Georgia. But the squad of players have since been cut to 37 ahead of their opening two matches against Australia at home next month. Erasmus admitted that this week's training camp was not originally part of their schedule, as the players were supposed to enjoy a two-week break after the win over Georgia at the Mbombela Stadium. However, the players were called back a week earlier to prepare for their Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on August 16. The Springboks and Aussies will then travel to Cape Town for their second match a week later on August 23. Erasmus says they want to work closely with individuals, which is something that they struggled to do with the amount of players who were in camp during the incoming tours. 'These two weeks of camp will give us time to align as coaches, as well as on the conditioning aspects for the players and to take stock from a medical perspective, so it's important in assisting us to get to where we want to be against three good countries in the series,' Erasmus said. 'We didn't cut the squad to drop guys, because this is only for the Australian Tests, but we can have a lot more one-on-one time with players. 'We always knew, having such a big squad in the beginning, it will be tough. But the positive will be, if you do get injuries during the Rugby Championships or on the End-of-Year Tour, you have a player who is comfortable and will be able to play.' 'But you do lose a bit of attention individually (when the squad is too big).'
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Will Rassie's Springboks be rusty against the hardened Wallabies or hit the ground running?
The Springboks' experimental build-up contrasts sharply with the Wallabies' bruising Lions series — will Rassie Erasmus' rotation gamble pay off in the Rugby Championship? Photo: Backpaghepix Image: Backpagepix COMMENT The form of the All Blacks and the Wallabies in their respective series Down Under raises the question of whether the Springboks will be undercooked in the Rugby Championship compared to their chief rivals. The New Zealanders won a close-fought series against France 3-0; the Wallabies have been going hammer and tongs with the British and Irish Lions, while the Boks had comparatively low-key games against Italy and Georgia. The other Rugby Championship team, the Pumas, had a disappointing start to their international season, losing a home series to an England side bereft of a host of players who are in Australia with the Lions. Perhaps, more pertinently, the Springboks used their block of four matches for experimentation, with coach Rassie Erasmus making 10 changes per match and giving nearly 40 players game time. He also blooded newcomers such as front-rowers Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), and utility forward Cobus Wiese (Bulls). The South Africans have indeed taken a different route to the Rugby Championship compared to New Zealand and Australia, and it is difficult to say who is right or wrong — there are different ways to skin a cat when it comes to preparing for a tournament. It could be argued that the chopping and changing has denied what will be the first-choice Springbok team any opportunity to play as a combination and build form. A counter-argument is that Erasmus' ideal team has played together so much over the last few years that they do not need warm-up matches as a unit, and keeping the players fresh is a greater priority — especially given that the Boks will play 14 matches this year, between July and November. The Bok combination that plays Australia at Ellis Park on 16 August will back themselves to hit the ground running because they know each other so well. The one thing Erasmus perhaps wasn't counting on was that Australia would be much better than he probably anticipated during his planning. The Wallabies went into their series against the Lions ranked eighth in the World Rugby rankings — an embarrassing position for a team that has won two World Cups. It was predicted they would lose the series 3-0, and while that might still happen, the Wallabies should have won last week's second Test. They were 30 seconds away from levelling the series thanks to a magnificent performance that was a world away from their disappointing showing in the first Test. Coach Joe Schmidt has done a fine job in fixing the Wallabies, and he will remain in charge for their two matches in South Africa before handing over to incoming coach Les Kiss. It will be interesting to see whether the Aussies kick on in South Africa after the high of the Lions series, or whether they find the Rugby Championship an anti-climax. Looking at a possible Bok side for the first Test, it is difficult to see beyond proven match-winners. The half-back combination is one of the few areas of debate. At 10, the three horses running neck and neck are Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok, and Handré Pollard. It won't matter a great deal whom Erasmus picks. Ditto scrum-half, although form would suggest Grant Williams is a short head in front of the other two nines in the squad, Cobus Reinach and Morne van den Berg. Possible Springboks team v Australia 15 Damian Willemse 14 Cheslin Kolbe 13 Jesse Kriel 12 Damian de Allende 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 9 Grant Williams 8 Kwagga Smith 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit 6 Siya Kolisi (captain) 5 Lood de Jager 4 Eben Etzebeth 3 Wilco Louw 2 Malcolm Marx 1 Ox Nche.
The South African
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Rankings: This is when Springboks could lose top spot
The Springboks have been comfortably ensconced at the top of the world rugby rankings since mid November, remaining at No 1 even in a period of inactivity during the Six Nations earlier this year when northern hemisphere rivals like Ireland and England were playing. It's been 35 weeks since the Springboks leapfrogged Ireland to go back to the top of the rankings last November, but in recent weeks the All Blacks have begun to eat into South Africa's lead at the summit. With New Zealand having secured three successive wins over a weakened France team in July, the Springboks now only have a gap of 0.72 points at the top of the rankings. The two arch-rivals will next be in action when the Rugby Championship kicks off on 16 August, and if the Springboks were to lose to sixth-placed Australia, the All Blacks would jump to No 1 as long as they defeat Argentina in that opening round. With that being said, the Springboks will be overwhelming favourites to beat the Wallabies at Ellis Park, as the All Blacks will be when they travel travel to Cordoba to take on seventh-ranked Argentina. If both South Africa and New Zealand win, the Springboks should remain top considering it's highly unlikely that the All Blacks will get enough points to wipe off the 0.72 deficit, but that rankings buffer for Rassie Erasmus' team is constantly shrinking. You can see exactly how the rankings are calculated by clicking here As at 21 July 2025 Rank Country Points 1 South Africa 92.78 2 New Zealand 92.06 3 Ireland 89.83 4 France 87.82 5 England 87.64 6 Australia 82.08 7 Argentina 82.05 8 Scotland 81.57 9 Fiji 80.50 10 Italy 77.77 11 Georgia 74.69 12 Wales 74.05 13 Samoa 72.48 14 Japan 72.29 15 Spain 69.12 16 USA 68.45 17 Uruguay 67.52 18 Portugal 66.44 19 Tonga 65.46 20 Chile 63.83 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Star
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Springboks borrow playbook from Under-14 B schools team
Rugby Union - South African head coach Rassie Erasmus' Press Conference - SARU House, Tygerberg Park, Cape Town, South Africa - March 5, 2025 South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus during the press conference REUTERS/Esa Alexander (Reuters) -South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has always been an innovator in the game, seeking an extra edge for his side with the unexpected, and found a new ploy he successfully unleashed on Italy from an Under-14 B schools team. The Springboks thumped the Italians 45-0 in Gqeberha on Saturday despite an early permanent red card for number eight Jasper Wiese, and from the kick-off they were full of innovation. They had demolished Italy in the scrums in the previous week's 42-24 win in Pretoria, and wanted to keep that psychological edge. The Springboks therefore intentionally conceded a scrum from the kick-off of the game. It did not work out as they were penalised with a free-kick for an early shove, but the writing was on the wall for a game that would be far from ordinary. Twice they created a maul in general play from which they gained penalty advantage and scored tries on both occasions. Lock Ruan Nortje was lifted to receive a pass, and as he came down to the ground, it created a driving maul from which the Springboks could use their powerful forwards. They received penalty advantage on both occasions as the Italians immediately infringed, but did not need it as centre Canan Moodie and hooker Malcolm Marx crossed for tries. When the powers that be drew up the laws of the game at the line-out, they certainly did not envisage them being used in general play, but Erasmus, who said he was "fairly happy" with his team's performance, has found a way to legally exploit them. "Many teams do different tactical moves and we did a maul in general play with a guy that we lift (to receive the pass)," he told reporters. "We actually saw an Under-14 B schools team doing it, Paul Roos Gymnasium (in Paarl, South Africa). "You get all the benefits from a line-out if you lift a guy in general play and it worked for us. But obviously now people will be alert for that. "We tried a few things and sometimes those things work and sometimes they don't, and you have to take it on the chin if they don't work." The Springboks next host Georgia in Nelspruit on Saturday. (Reporting by Nick Said, Editing by Louise Heavens)
The South African
18-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Could first Springbok team of the year look like this?
The wait for the Springboks to return to action is almost over as Rassie Erasmus' charges prepare to take on the Barbarians in their season-opener on 28 June. Rassie Erasmus has made it clear that they are not taking this clash lightly as their intention is to get their own structures in place as they prepare for a challenging international season. Interestingly, he has identified this clash as an opportunity to get Japan-based players back up to speed considering their League One season finished quite some time ago, while there will certainly be some newcomers who are afforded a run as well. It's also unlikely all that many Bulls players will be pushed into action considering they have just featured all the way through to the URC final. With all this in mind, this is the first team of the year that we think the Springboks could select. 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter. Rassie Erasmus has made it clear that there is a very clear plan in place for the opening fixture of the 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.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
