Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus find himself in an enviable position, able to choose 56 local players for an alignment camp. Photo: Ian Landsberg Independent Media
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus finds himself in an enviable position as he prepares for the upcoming 2025 season.
The announcement of a remarkable squad of 56 local-based players for the first national alignment camp serves as a testament to South Africa's rich rugby talent pool, and it clearly sets a benchmark in international rugby selection.
This development also begs the question: where else in the world can fans see such a large cohort drafted in for just the initial training phase, with months still to go before the first Test match of the 2025 season?
While countries like England, Ireland, France, New Zealand, and Australia strive to develop their future stars as early as South Africa does, they can only look on with admiration at Erasmus and the Boks’ unique privilege.
The Springboks' ability to gather nearly five dozen players in South Africa demonstrates a depth of talent that rivals and possibly tops any rugby nation globally. What stands out even more is that several notable performers in the United Rugby Championship (URC) have not made the cut for this initial squad, indicating a wealth of options and fierce competition for places at a higher level.
You think of the Stormers’ Ruben van Heerden, JD Schickerling, and the Bulls’ Ruan Vermaak (all locks), Stormers fullback Warrick Gelant and the Lions’ fetcher JC Pretorius.
Adding to the intrigue, the overseas-based Springboks, who will not join the players in Cape Town for this gathering, will still be actively involved through virtual sessions with the coaching staff following the in-person camp. This hybrid approach not only maintains a connection with the diaspora of talent but also enriches the tactical discussions surrounding the squad's preparation for the road ahead.
Erasmus and his coaching team are undoubtedly pleased by the strong performances of promising youngsters across various competitions, including the URC, Champions Cup, and Challenge Cup.
Players like the Lions' outside centre Henco van Wyk and tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, and the Sharks’ backline duo Jurenzo Julius and Ethan Hooker have caught the eye with their impressive displays. Likewise, the rapid speed of Stormers' winger Suleiman Hartzenberg, alongside the robust presence of Bulls lock JF van Heerden and versatile Reinhardt Ludwig, underline the exciting possibilities for the Springbok future.
But then there are plenty of double World Cup winners still at the Boks’ disposal, some who are pretty much still in the mix to put in the hard yards until the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Others we will likely only see involved over the next year or so to carry over that Springbok ethos to those youngsters joining the setup for the first or second time.
What is amazing in the national team under Erasmus, is that since he took over in 2018, there has never been a need to overhaul the squad after winning a World Cup. And there have been two victories in 2019 and 2023. He’s ensured that retiring players after 2019 were replaced by adequate ones, the changing of the guard after 2023 has started taking place last year already.
Thanks to the talent being developed in the URC, Champions and Challenge Cup, Erasmus didn’t have to look too far, or struggle for that matter, to field strong teams that dominated last year.
He is spoiled for choice when it comes to Bok selections, and this season looks set to be the one where he gives more young talent a chance to make a name for themselves at an international level.
Leighton Koopman has been writing about the South African rugby sphere for over a decade. He hosts the Last Word on Rugby podcast every Friday morning on YouTube.