The followin g comment of Keihane is really pertinment in the above regard:-
South African rugby is no longer just winning – it is setting the pace for the global game, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane argues that Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks are streets ahead of the rest of the rugby world in innovation, selection, conditioning and long-term planning. Back-to-back World Cup titles and consecutive Castle Rugby Championship crowns are the visible proof of a system that has become the benchmark.
Since losing to Ireland at the 2023 World Cup, the Boks have been beaten just four times in 31 Tests, winning away against every major nation, including France in Paris, Ireland in Dublin, England at Twickenham and the All Blacks in Wellington, where they delivered a record-breaking 43-10 victory.
But Keohane stresses that the success story stretches far beyond the senior side. South Africa’s U20s are world champions, the Blitzboks have reclaimed global dominance, the U18s remain unbeaten, and the Springbok Women reached a World Cup quarter-final for the first time. “The results have been unrivalled,” he writes.
Keohane credits SA Rugby president Mark Alexander and CEO Rian Oberholzer for restoring financial stability and calm, noting that sponsorship is at an all-time high and governance has replaced the chaos of a decade ago.
Erasmus’ contract extension to 2031 signals continuity, not complacency. Keohane highlights that succession planning will come from within the national structure, reinforcing a system that has thrived on trust and stability.
No team has ever won three successive World Cups, but Keohane believes South Africa are uniquely positioned to attempt it – not through hype, but through structure, depth and leadership that has made them rugby’s gold standard."
The following Comments from Wessels is important as well:-
SA Rugby general manager for high performance Dave Wessels has praised Rassie Erasmus for creating a “golden era” of South African rugby.
Erasmus’ tenure – both as director of rugby and Springbok head coach – has delivered unprecedented dominance: back-to-back World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023, a British & Irish Lions series victory in 2021, and consecutive Castle Rugby Championship triumphs in 2024 and 2025.
But Wessels says Erasmus’ influence stretches far beyond the Boks.
“Rassie and his team have really created this golden era of South African rugby,” Wessels told Planet Rugby. “Sometimes as fans, we don’t quite appreciate how special it is.”
Wessels, who stepped into the newly created high-performance role in 2024, now oversees the Blitzboks, Junior Boks, Springbok Women, Springbok Women Sevens and SA U18 teams – structures Erasmus helped shape when he was still SA Rugby director of rugby.
“I’m blessed and was very lucky that he gave me an opportunity many years ago,” said Wessels, who first worked alongside Erasmus as a technical analyst at the Stormers in 2008.
“When he called me about this job, it was very difficult to say no. I’m pleased that I didn’t. It’s been fantastic, and I feel privileged to be part of it.”
The ex-Western Force and Melbourne Rebels head coach said the success achieved by South Africa’s other national teams in 2025 – the World Rugby U20 Championship title, the Blitzboks’ SVNS crown, and the Springbok Women reaching their first World Cup quarter-final – flows directly from the performance environment Erasmus created.
“The things that Rassie and the Springboks are doing have set such a high bar for everybody at SA Rugby,” Wessels said. “There’s a real energy in the organisation. Everyone feels the responsibility to bring their A-game.”
He also pointed to the clarity Erasmus provides as a central pillar of success.
“He’s kept the squad fresh, introduced new faces, and they’ve all performed. He’s created an ecosystem of performance where the expectations are so high, and everyone resonates with the purpose: the Springboks bring joy to a country that often needs it.”
Wessels said his mandate is simple: “We’re copying what works in Rassie’s environment and applying it across our teams. If we get it right, South Africa can be world champions in women’s rugby as well..
Bad news for the Erasmus denogrators on site