Last year, the Springboks used as many as 50 players and handed out several new Test caps as Rassie Erasmus strategically shared game-time throughout his squad.
It was a ploy that certainly didn’t stop the Springboks from winning as they claimed the Rugby Championship title and maintained their position at the top of the World Rugby rankings after losing just twice all year.
If there was any thought that the Springboks might dial it back a bit when it comes to rotation and selection experimentation this year, Rassie Erasmus has made it clear that they will continue to make use of their wider squad.
“We would like to do something similar to last year, where the senior players and some of the younger players contribute on the field,” said Erasmus. “We have players in the squad who could still play until 2026, but that does not negate the fact that they can still deliver on the field for us.
“We have an eye on the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but our mindset this year will be fixed on trying to win all our matches, while at the same time broadening our squad depth and experience.
“Our goal is to ensure that by the next World Cup, most of the players have more than 15 Test caps.”
Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks ready for new season
The Springboks will meet the Barbarians in their first encounter on South African soil in Cape Town on Saturday 28 June where they will play for the Qatar Airways Cup, which will be followed by back-to-back Tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on 5 and 12 July, and Georgia in Nelspruit a week later on 19 July.
Erasmus added: “We used a total of 50 players last season in an attempt to balance the load on them, while at the same time building towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and with a few more talented youngsters in this group, we hope that they will learn valuable lessons and stake a strong claim for places in what will be a challenging, yet exciting season.”
Full squad ahead of the 2025 season:
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Vincent Tshituka (all Sharks), Neethling Fouche, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos (all Stormers), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Wilco Louw, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese, Ruan Nortje (all Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel (both Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams, Ethan Hooker (all Sharks), Manie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse (all Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie (all Bulls), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe (both Lions).
HOW MANY GAMES DO YOU THINK THE TEAM WILL WIN THIS YEAR?
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