Room to rotate: How the Springboks can use their pool to prepare for big World Cup tests

South Africa’s 2027 Rugby World Cup pool gives Rassie Erasmus a rare luxury: room to breathe, think, and experiment without putting the campaign at risk.

Italy will be the opening match on October 3 in Brisbane and will be treated seriously — and rightly so; They are the one side in the group that can punish complacency, particularly if the Springboks start slowly or lose control with the forwards.

That’s why it’s hard to see anything other than the strongest team taking the field for this one.

Erasmus has always valued setting the tone early on, and the Boks will want to stamp their authority on the pool from the first clash.

After that, the dynamic shifts massively.

Clashes against Georgia (October 10) in Brisbane and Romania (October 17) in Perth are unlikely to trouble the world champions and will not demand full-throttle performances. Those fixtures are where the broader squad could come into play, and knowing Erasmus, he has never been shy about backing the depth when the opportunity presents itself.

This is where combinations become interesting. Different front-row pairings, new lock partnerships, and alternative loose-forward trios can be tested without the pressure of a knockout scenario. These matches won’t just be about winning but also about figuring out who fits where when injuries strike or form dips later in the tournament.

The same applies out wide.

Midfield partnerships can be rotated, knowing that André Esterhuizen, Canan Moodie and Ethan Hooker are ready to step up when Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel rest. Wings can be given extended runs, and flyhalves trusted with managing a game without having that sword of do-or-die over their heads.

It will give Erasmus and his coaches the perfect opportunity to see how comfortable his players are when the pressure is less on them.

That doesn’t mean the Springboks will completely break continuity.

Certain positions, though — particularly around the spine of the team — are likely to stay relatively stable. It will be a non-negotiable to have the players that must do the job in the quarters firing on all cylinders to ensure they strike the iron while it is hot in the playoffs.

The Round of 16 could well serve as a reset after the pool stages.

Depending on the toughness of the opposition, it could be the moment to bring back the first-choice combinations to sharpen them and rebuild momentum.

With a potential quarter-final against the All Blacks or Wallabies, drifting into the playoffs without proper rhythm would be a massive gamble. Those two teams will arguably be the best supported ones in Australia and could have momentum on their side.

However, judging by how Erasmus and his assistants managed previous World Cups, ensuring every player is ready for the occasion when called upon, they should hit the ground running by the time the playoffs arrive.

Yes, there will probably not be any scope to lose a pool game like in the previous two editions, where they lost and went on to win the tournament. So, to ensure they are not found wanting, momentum must be maintained throughout the pool phase, even if Erasmus decides to field different teams.

If the Boks can strike that balance and have all the players battle-ready by the playoffs, it will be difficult to stop them from winning a third title in a row.