Rassie Erasmus Reveals the Thinking Behind His Springboks Rotation Gamble
- Rassie Erasmus has explained why experience remains central to his Springboks selection strategy despite constant changes
- Cameron Hanekom’s latest performance provided another glimpse of what South Africa’s younger players can offer
- The Springboks coach also revealed the physical toll of a demanding series against New Zealand
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Rassie Erasmus believes the Springboks’ 3-1 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series victory over New Zealand justified his long-term approach to squad rotation and player development.
The Springboks completed the series with a 43-28 victory over the All Blacks in Baltimore on Saturday, 12 September 2026. Erasmus pointed to the experience in his starting XV as a key factor in the result.
The team had accumulated 927 Test caps before kick-off, while another 277 caps were available among the replacements.
“The team that played today, the average age was 31, so it’s not a young team,” Erasmus said according to SA Rugby Magazine.
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He explained that regularly changing the squad was part of a broader plan to build depth while ensuring emerging players were surrounded by experienced campaigners.
Cameron Hanekom earns Rassie Erasmus praise
One of the younger players to benefit from that approach was Cameron Hanekom. The six-cap loose forward entered the match from the bench and scored his second Test try as the Springboks managed the workload of their forwards.
“Cameron Hanekom was awesome,” Erasmus said.
He added that Pieter-Steph du Toit was suffering from cramp while Jasper Wiese was tiring when Hanekom was introduced.
“When he came on, he was – he’s just getting better game by game and starting to feel comfortable in the system, so very happy for him,” Erasmus said.
The performance gave Hanekom another opportunity to demonstrate his development within the Springboks setup.
Springboks balance experience and youth
Erasmus also highlighted the physical demands of playing four consecutive Tests against New Zealand.
“There are six or seven older guys who, if we played next week, wouldn’t have been able to play. Their bodies are too tired,” he said.
The coach said the challenge was finding the right balance between experienced players and those still establishing themselves internationally.
“Sometimes we get it right, sometimes wrong,” Erasmus said. “But the older guys help the younger guys, they pull them up, not push them down.”
The 3-1 series victory therefore provided Erasmus with both a result and further evidence of the depth he has been building.
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Richie Mo’unga reveals what makes the Springboks so difficult to stop
Briefly News also reported that All Blacks star Richie Mo’unga made a candid admission after New Zealand’s 43-28 defeat to the Springboks in Baltimore on Saturday, 12 September 2026.
Mo’unga said South Africa have evolved significantly since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. He described the Springboks as a “complete team”, highlighting their ability to challenge opponents through their forwards while also threatening with their backs.
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Source: Briefly News
