Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has warned against underestimating England as South Africa ramps up preparations for the inaugural Nations Championship, which kicks off next weekend in Johannesburg.
Speaking after naming a 46-man squad on Saturday, Erasmus praised the quality and balance of the England squad selected by head coach Steve Borthwick for the opening clash at Ellis Park on 4 July.
The England squad is young but experienced, with a strong mix of seasoned players and fearless youngsters,” said Erasmus. “They reached the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-finals and have built good momentum through the Premiership. We know we’ll have to work extremely hard to get a result against them.”
Erasmus also praised emerging England loose forward Henry Pollock, comparing the attention surrounding him to that often received by Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.
“What matters is what a player does on the field, and his performances have been exceptional,” Erasmus said.
Kolisi, who will once again lead the Springboks, said the squad’s leadership extends far beyond the captaincy.
It’s a great honour, but this team has many leaders,” said Kolisi. “Our responsibility is to share knowledge and ensure everyone is ready whenever they’re called upon.”
Despite England’s mixed Six Nations campaign, Erasmus believes their recent form will have little bearing on the contest, noting the strength of players coming through clubs such as Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers.
Tactically, Steve Borthwick is always evolving and difficult to predict. We have an idea of what they might bring, but they could do something completely different on the day,” he said.
With bonus points on offer throughout the Nations Championship, Erasmus insisted South Africa’s primary focus remains winning matches and building depth ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.
We’re not looking at the competition purely in terms of the standings,” he said. “Our goal is to win each game, strengthen the squad, and continue developing our identity as a team.”
The Springboks will conclude their current training camp on Thursday before reassembling on Sunday for the final phase of preparations ahead of the highly anticipated showdown against England at Ellis Park.
Image By: Springboks