Hansen remarked on the robustness of the Springbok squad, stating, "There’s not too many weaknesses there. It’s a big squad, so I’m not sure if he is going to use all those players or just wants to reward everyone he has had in the system and keep growing them, but a very, very strong squad."
"He has built cohesion. When he adds these young guys in, he doesn’t throw them in ad hoc. He surrounds them with a core of people that are the cohesive unit. So, if we just looked at it selection-wise, you might say he is taking some risk, but he’s clever."
Hansen believes that Erasmus’s approach during the Nations Championship, where he rotated a total of 43 players including five debutants over three Tests, was not random but a carefully thought-out strategy to build team cohesion and experience.
It wasn't just Erasmus who received Hansen's praise. He extends it to the entire coaching team: "The coaching group are clever. It’s not just Rassie; the whole group need to be given credit. They are good at making sure we’ve got a solid block here of people that know what we want, how we want to do it … and we’ll just drip-feed in some more people."
Looking ahead to the outcomes of the upcoming tests, Hansen predicts a balanced contest. "Four Tests, could be 2-2. It’s going to be fantastic to sit back and watch because there are contrasting styles. We’ll learn a little bit more about the All Blacks team and about the South African team because they’re going to have to front up against each other four times."
Indeed, the series offers an exciting opportunity to witness the tactical evolution of both teams as they confront each other multiple times, showcasing their unique styles and strategic depths.
