Rassie Erasmus emphasizes that the Springboks must continue to pioneer new strategies if they aim to achieve a historic third consecutive Rugby World Cup victory in 2027. Erasmus has alerted both players and management of the Springboks to the dangers of becoming complacent, highlighting the necessity for ongoing innovation to remain contenders for another World Cup win. THE SPRINGBOKS’ 2027 PROJECT BEGINS A selected group of players will gather for an alignment camp starting Tuesday evening, engaging in several strategic meetings until Thursday. The camp aims to familiarize the players with the expectations of Springbok rugby, the coaching staff’s critical focus areas in the national system, and the criteria the coaches will use to select the squad for the international season. The reigning world champions are set to open their season on Saturday, 22 June, with a match against Wales at Twickenham, followed by the Incoming Series back in South Africa. This series includes a two-Test series against Ireland on 6 and 13 July in Pretoria and Durban, respectively, and a historic Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein on 20 July. RASSIE ERASMUS BEGINS PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEXT WORLD CUP Rassie Erasmus expressed his excitement about meeting the players at the first of three alignment camps ahead of the opening Test, stating, “As a coaching team, we have a clear vision for this season, and we’re eager to share our core strategies with this group of players. “This is a talented group, and these camps are crucial for laying the foundation not only for this season but also for setting our direction for the future of our game. “The game of rugby is evolving quickly, and we need to advance as a team to stay ahead in the sport. We made it clear last year that our efforts in 2019 wouldn’t suffice for defending our title at the 2023 World Cup, and the same principle applies following last year’s international tournament.”
