The Springboks will target the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks as the one trophy they want to win this year; however, England in the Nations Championship in July will also be a priority for the world champions.
While the South Africans are excited to face New Zealand in four Tests – three at home and the fourth in the United States – Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus aims to start the 2026 season on a positive positively against the English.
He confirmed on Monday that this will be another year of mixing and matching teams as they keep their sights on the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The Springboks will specifically focus on the high-flying English and see that Test at Ellis Park as the perfect preparation for what awaits in August and September against their arch-rivals.
Erasmus said it will be difficult to plan teams around all the big matches they have, especially if they want to keep some cards close to their chest for the World Cup. However, they will target battles with the English and New Zealanders using their strongest possible sides, but there could also be a chance for experimentation with younger players to give them a taste of rugby against the top teams.
“In this specific year, the Greatest Rivalry is massive for us; the Nations Championship will be interesting,” Erasmus said.
“Our mindset will be to win every game we play, like any other team in the world. However, it will be difficult to say, ‘Let’s go balls to the wall and try to win every competition this year.’ Then in 2027, you sit with more questions for which you don’t have answers.
“England are hitting their straps, and they have a win record of 11 games. Yes, they are playing in the Six Nations and could lose it, or they can stay unbeaten. But you can see something is growing in the English team that is special. For us to beat them in the first game of the year will be a massive achievement.
“It is the first game of the Nations Championship, and it is in South Africa, so that match is very important for our season.”
According to Erasmus, they are planning a warm-up game before facing the English in July. They’ve learnt from the past that it is vital to have a game under the belt when facing elite opposition to ensure certain players, especially those coming off a longer break like the Japan-based Boks, are battle-hardened.
He says if they go in cold into the English match, it could lead to a tough start to their international campaign.
“If you look at the calendar, after November, we don’t play rugby for about seven months. A lot of things happened during that time. There are law changes and variations; they (England) have the Six Nations. We are lucky that some of our players are in the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup. So, we see them playing against European opposition.
“It gives us a bit of an edge in terms of analysis when they are playing in the Six Nations, and they don’t see what we are doing or planning. We have guys in Japan that are maybe overplayed or underdone, and that warm-up match is to ensure that players are ready for England.”
