Springboks focus on Ireland ahead of July Tests

The Springboks’ current focus is preparing for the home Test series against Ireland according to coach Rassie Erasmus.

Erasmus is happy with the state of the Springbok player pool ahead of the start of the 2024 international campaign.

Springboks focus on Ireland Tests

The coach has conducted alignment camps to take the temperature of Springbok rugby during the break from Test rugby.

A second in-person alignment camp will get underway today in Cape Town.

Exempt from this camp will be the Springboks who are on duty with the Sharks.

The Sharks are in The United Kingdom ahead of their Challenge Cup Final against Gloucester at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Erasmus says that the group is progressing well and they are ready to start more intensive preparation to face Wales, Ireland and Portugal in the upcoming July internationals.

“We are moving into a new cycle as a group as our first Test is only a few weeks away, so it is vital that we start diving deeper into our on-field planning,” said Erasmus.

“In the first two camps we presented our wider plans to the players and introduced the new ideas presented by all the coaches and especially the new additions to the coaching team in Tony Brown, Jerry Flannery and Jaco Peyer, so we are in a good position to start zooming into different areas of the game in more detail.”

A huge season for the Springboks

Erasmus laid out the season ahead of the Springboks stressing the importance of the Rugby Championship campaign.

The Springboks failed to win a Rugby Championship between the 2019 and 2023 World Cup wins with the All Blacks dominating the competition.

Erasmus also said: “With our first Test around the corner it will be great to have everyone together and ensure that the coaches and players are 100% aligned in terms of what we want to achieve and how we plan to approach the season.

“We have a challenging year lined up as the Test against Wales falls outside of the international window, and then we play two Tests against Ireland, the second-ranked team in the world, and our first Test against Portugal in the Castle Lager Incoming Series.

“We then move on to the Castle Lager Rugby Championship which kicks off with back-to-back away Tests against Australia, followed by two Tests against New Zealand in South Africa, and two matches against Argentina, away and at home.

“Our Castle Lager Outgoing Tour will also serve as a thorough test with matches against Scotland, England and Wales lined up, so the sooner we are aligned as a group, the better.”