It's a new era for South African rugby, and under the steely gaze of Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks aren't just participating—they're dominating. With the Freedom Cup now resting comfortably in their trophy case after a decisive victory over the All Blacks, South Africa has firmly planted itself at the top of the world rugby rankings, leaving New Zealand trailing by nearly four points as they march into 2026.
Erasmus, a master of the long game, is already drawing up blueprints for the next Rugby World Cup. His strategy isn't just about peaking every four years; it's about maintaining a relentless pace in between. "When we win a World Cup, people say: ‘Yeah, but you don’t do things in between the World Cups’. Now that we’re doing things in between the World Cups, people say: ‘But you’re not going to peak in the World Cup’," Erasmus challenges the narrative with a focus on continuous improvement.
"But guys are getting older and you have to manage that. When the young guys keep coming, I don’t think their games are just getting better, but also their calmness and understanding."
The weight of expectation is a familiar burden for the Springboks, though historically they've thrived as underdogs rather than favorites. This shift in dynamics is something Erasmus acknowledges South Africans need to get comfortable with, especially after their recent 73-0 thrashing of Wales at the Principality Stadium—a match that saw several new caps blending seamlessly into the squad.
"When I asked the guys: ‘How many haven’t played here?’ I think 11 put up their hand," Erasmus recalls, emphasizing the blend of novelty and experience within his team. "This is special for us, we like the horses in front of the bus, we like the military band, we like what the Welsh do and that was a new experience for guys that haven’t played here."
The real test, however, is in maintaining this momentum without crossing into arrogance. "It’s about getting comfortable sometimes being the favourite. We’re not great at that in South Africa – when we’re favourite we seem to find a problem somewhere," he notes, outlining the psychological challenges of staying on top.
As the Springboks gear up for another challenging year, the message from Erasmus is clear: embrace the target on your back, and keep pushing the limits. With this mindset, the Springboks are not just defending champions—they are relentless innovators, looking to redefine what it means to be the world's best.
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It's a new era for South African rugby, and under the steely gaze of Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks aren't just participating—they're dominating. With the Freedom Cup now resting comfortably in their trophy case after a decisive victory over the All Blacks, South Africa has firmly planted itself at the top of the world rugby rankings, leaving New Zealand trailing by nearly four points as they march into 2026.
Erasmus, a master of the long game, is already drawing up blueprints for the next Rugby World Cup. His strategy isn't just about peaking every four years; it's about maintaining a relentless pace in between. "When we win a World Cup, people say: ‘Yeah, but you don’t do things in between the World Cups’. Now that we’re doing things in between the World Cups, people say: ‘But you’re not going to peak in the World Cup’," Erasmus challenges the narrative with a focus on continuous improvement.
"But guys are getting older and you have to manage that. When the young guys keep coming, I don’t think their games are just getting better, but also their calmness and understanding."
The weight of expectation is a familiar burden for the Springboks, though historically they've thrived as underdogs rather than favorites. This shift in dynamics is something Erasmus acknowledges South Africans need to get comfortable with, especially after their recent 73-0 thrashing of Wales at the Principality Stadium—a match that saw several new caps blending seamlessly into the squad.
"When I asked the guys: ‘How many haven’t played here?’ I think 11 put up their hand," Erasmus recalls, emphasizing the blend of novelty and experience within his team. "This is special for us, we like the horses in front of the bus, we like the military band, we like what the Welsh do and that was a new experience for guys that haven’t played here."
The real test, however, is in maintaining this momentum without crossing into arrogance. "It’s about getting comfortable sometimes being the favourite. We’re not great at that in South Africa – when we’re favourite we seem to find a problem somewhere," he notes, outlining the psychological challenges of staying on top.
As the Springboks gear up for another challenging year, the message from Erasmus is clear: embrace the target on your back, and keep pushing the limits. With this mindset, the Springboks are not just defending champions—they are relentless innovators, looking to redefine what it means to be the world's best.