How Rassie Erasmus plans to blend experience and youth for Springboks for 2027 Rugby World Cup

Should his plans fall in place, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus wants to use at least seven of the 14 rugby matches this year to keep his older guard fit and ready to continue playing at the highest level.

With the other seven, he will be able to give the younger players more experience at the highest level ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, helping them achieve a target of at least 14 or 15 Test caps ahead of the tournament.

The Boks are set to play 13 Tests this year, and will start the season with a friendly match against the Barbarians, next Saturday in Cape Town. An additional Test for later this year must still be confirmed by SA Rugby.

Erasmus has said keeping his experienced guys fit and getting caps into the next generation as the goals for the next two seasons.

He believes this approach will prepare them well for their title defence in Australia.

However, he acknowledges the need to win and secure a top-three finish in the international rankings for a better World Cup draw.

“The main thing this year is to win, and to hopefully be in a good position for that draw at the end of the year,” Erasmus said this past week.

“We have 14 confirmed games.

“That means if we can get the older guys playing in six or seven of them, and then give the medium to younger guys also six or seven and do the same next year, we should have enough depth for the World Cup.”

The Springboks finished their second week of training in Johannesburg before the season-opener against the Barbarians at the Cape Town Stadium.

They will move to the Mother City this weekend and start their final preparation for the Baabaas on Monday.

The world champions will also face Italy in double Tests (July 5 and 12 in Pretoria and Gqeberha) and Georgia a week later in Mbombela.

Asked if the Barbarians, Italians and Georgians will provide the strongest test before defending their Rugby Championship crown later this year, Erasmus said they were looking forward to measuring themselves especially at scrum-time against the European sides.

Both are known for their powerful set-pieces, and it will be a perfect opportunity for the Boks to blend some experienced forwards with younger players.

Defensively, the Baabaas with their traditional flair, will be a stern test to the Boks’ defensive structures, and coach Robbie Deans has already confirmed former All Black captain Sam Cane and Irish legends Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray will make the trip to SA.

“A lot of people will assume that they will be easy teams, but it will be a slap in the face of those guys,” Erasmus said about underestimating them.

“We know the Barbarians from 2018, and the names I am seeing, it will really be a great test to get some guys in.

“It will be tough enough and it’s in Cape Town, so there is no altitude. They will have more endurance.

“Italy and what we have analysed, they stayed in the fight in some of their games during the Six Nations. Their defence was really good.

“We drive our own standards, but we know if you are a little bit off (against them)... And I can remember when Italy beat South Africa. That feeling I can remember.

“We will be worried not to fall into that trap.”