Springboks change plans due to ‘selection uncertainty’

Earlier this year the Springboks concluded their first alignment camp of the year, with coach Rassie Erasmus casting his net wide in terms of including a host of ‘newcomers’.

Many players will be cut from the squad when it is trimmed for the upcoming Test matches in the middle of the year, but it’s worth noting that there were originally two more alignment camps planned for May.

These sessions were set to be hosted between 1 and 3 May, and 22 to 24 May respectively, but it’s believed that there has now been a change of plan.

According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, the second three-day alignment camp of the year will instead be replaced by a virtual one-day session on Friday, 3 May.

It’s a decision made due to the fact that there is not yet clarity over which local players will be available for the Test against Wales at Twickenham on 22 June.

This clash falls outside of the international window, and so a host of overseas-based players will not be able to selected. In addition, the URC final is also scheduled for 22 June, and it remains to be seen whether the Bulls or Stormers could reach the title decider.

WHO COULD COME BACK INTO THE SPRINGBOKS’ ALIGNMENT CAMPS?

The biggest omissions from the first alignment camp were undoubtedly Stormers star Hacjivah Dayimani, World Cup winner Deon Fourie and Sharks utility back Aphelele Fassi.

Fourie has since picked up an injury, but Fassi and Dayimani will hope to do enough to earn inclusion for the remaining Springboks alignment camp towards the end of May.

WORK TO BE DONE

As the Boks have begun their road to 2027 with the first alignment camp of the year, Erasmus has highlighted the importance of balance winning results with some ‘experimentation’ when it came to backing new players.

“Building a squad, trialing guys, giving guys opportunity, making sure that we always improve on squad depth, transforming the way we do things, trying to stay up to date… we have to try things.

“We certainly did lose a few Test matches in the last couple of years between World Cups because we tried things to know the answers when we get to the World Cup.

“It would be wonderful as head coach to do better between World Cups. Then again, do you want to try and get answers during the World Cup?

“We have had two runs at it at the last two World Cup, but know we have a clean slate. I would rather win the World Cup than sit at 80%. It’s better than not winning the World Cup at all and sitting at 80 to 85%. We would love to get that win percentage up, but we have to be brave and take chances with youngsters.”