Kolisi (Springboks captain) and Erasmus embrace Getty Images

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus. Image: Getty Images.

Rassie excited by Springboks’ depth ahead of RWC 2023

Rassie Erasmus says it’ll be easier to pick a 33-man Springboks squad for the 2023 World Cup because of the large player pool available.

Kolisi (Springboks captain) and Erasmus embrace Getty Images

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus. Image: Getty Images.

Rassie Erasmus says it’ll be easier to decide on a 33-man Springboks squad for the the 2023 World Cup because if the large player pool available to selectors.

The Springbok won eight of their 13 Tests this year, finishing with a win percentage of 62%. They lost one game each to the Wales, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and France; but did beat both Wales and Argentina twice, and the All Blacks, Wallabies, Italy and England once each.

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While many would rate that as a below par performance from the world champions, Erasmus has made it clear that the Springboks had reached its core goals for the year.

In an interview with Rapport newspaper’s Hendrik Cronje, Erasmus explained the 2022 international season was the first the Springboks had been able to successfully strengthen its Test squad depth post the 2019 World Cup.

“In 2020, we’d were supposed to play two Tests against Scotland and we were also going to play against Georgia, which would have been a soft landing after the 2019 World Cup. We’d have been able test new players in those games, but ultimately 2020 was just gone due to Covid,” he explained.

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“In 2021, we couldn’t catch up with what we had planned for 2020, because you only play the British & Irish Lions every 12 years. After that series, we had the Rugby Championship and to make things more complicated, Covid19 was at its worst last year,” Erasmus added.

“We wanted to blood in young players to test at the highest level against different opponents and we finally did that this year. People say now that we have depth in almost every position, it’ll be difficult to pick a 33-man squad for the World Cup, but it’s actually easier.

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“The difficulty in selection lies in not having options, like 2018 for example, when we only had one scrumhalf and not three to pick from.

“Having this kind of depth is super exciting and the all the players have been given road maps they have to work on. In the end, the 33 guys will be selected on the technical and fundamental strength of the progress they’ve done in terms of their road maps.”

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Springboks Test team that played England at Twickenham 2022. Rassie Erasmus
Springboks Test team that played England at Twickenham 2022.