Rassie Erasmus Backs Settled Springboks Squad For Crucial New Zealand Tour
Rassie Erasmus Backs Settled Springboks Squad For Crucial New Zealand Tour
Rassie Erasmus sticks with his core Springboks squad for back-to-back Rugby Championship tests against the All Blacks in Auckland and Wellington.
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has doubled down on continuity as he prepares his squad for one of the toughest assignments in world rugby.
Erasmus confirmed that 36 of the 38 players who featured in South Africa’s opening two Castle Lager Rugby Championship clashes with Australia will travel to New Zealand for back-to-back tests against the All Blacks in September.
- Subscribe To FloRugby To Watch Every Match Of The 2025 Rugby Championship
- United Rugby Championship Schedule: Here's Every URC Fixture
- Springboks, Handre Pollard Defeat Wallabies, Watch Full Replay Free
The Boks will square off against their biggest rivals at Eden Park in Auckland on Sept. 6, before shifting south to Wellington’s Sky Stadium a week later.
Both contests are expected to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the Championship, as South Africa seeks to successfully defend the crown it won last season for the first time since 2019.
There were only two changes from the squad that faced Australia.
With wings Kurt Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe ruled out through injury, veteran Makazole Mapimpi comes into the group after linking up with the team in Cape Town.
Utility forward Cobus Wiese drops out of the touring party but remains on standby if needed.
The final squad list features 20 forwards and 16 backs, though No. 8 Jasper Wiese only will be available for the second clash due to suspension.
Erasmus stressed the importance of sticking with a group that already has been building cohesion throughout the year.
“This group of players have been working hard together since our first training camp in June, and most of them have been playing together for years," he said. "The newer players in the squad showed in the Castle Lager Incoming Series and in the two matches against Australia that they are ready for this challenge."
The Boks boss also delivered some positive news on the injury front. Captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter Steph du Toit, Willie le Roux and Jan Hendrik Wessels have been medically cleared, while every player who featured against Australia in Cape Town has been declared fit.
Erasmus knows that the task ahead will be formidable.
The All Blacks may have endured inconsistency in recent seasons, but facing them at home remains the ultimate test.
“The Rugby Championship is wide open, with all four teams having one win after two rounds," he added. "Facing the All Blacks in New Zealand is always massive, but every side in this competition is world-class. Argentina just defeated New Zealand, while Australia turned us over at Ellis Park not long ago. We know what is required and do not need any extra motivation.”
History will also hang over the tour.
South Africa has beaten the All Blacks in their last four meetings, marking only the second time in history that such a streak has been achieved. That record will fuel both teams when they collide in Auckland.
“Every match against the All Blacks is epic, given the rivalry," Erasmus said. "We need to build on the momentum we created this year and take another step up before facing them."
The Springboks are scheduled to depart for New Zealand on Tuesday, which Erasmus believes will give the group sufficient time to acclimatize.
Kickoff for both tests is set for 9:05 South African time.
With the Championship finely poised, the tour could well decide if South Africa can keep its hands on the trophy.
Springboks Squad For Rugby Championship Tests Against New Zealand:
Forwards
Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs
Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
Watch Free Springboks Replay
Watch the Springboks game against the Australia Wallabies free on FloRugby's YouTube channel.
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
The URC will stream all its matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.