Rassie: We Aimed To Finish Number One

Rassie Erasmus takes his men into the battlefield one last time for 2025 as the Springboks aim to conclude the end-of-year tour unbeaten and with the number one world ranking intact following decisive victories over Japan, France, Italy, and Ireland, with a meeting against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday. 

The Rugby World Cup champions head into their fifteenth game of the arduous season with a record of 12 victories – including a record win against New Zealand in Wellington to go with the major scalps of France and Ireland – and two defeats. The defeats came at the hands of New Zealand at Eden Park, along with a shock defeat to Australia at Ellis Park. 

With several players returning to their clubs, Erasmus admitted that preparation for this week’s Test against Wales looked noticeably different. 

The Rugby World Cup-winning coach also addressed the unusual 7–1 bench split for this weekend’s match, clarifying that it was not a strategic decision but rather the consequence of limited player availability. 

While Erasmus admitted that “we don’t have much cover if someone in the 23 gets injured during the week,” their hands, he said, “were a bit forced.” It was, however, a gamble the staff was willing to accept. 

“Regarding the team selection, we didn’t plan on going for a 7-1 split against Wales – it’s the only guys available after discussions with our franchises.” 

Erasmus explained that South Africa’s tactical plans cannot rely solely on the idea of overpowering opponents in set-piece battles, as they did successfully against Ireland. 

“It’s tough to decide beforehand that you’ll take a team on at set-pieces,” he noted, pointing out that the timing and frequency of scrums or lineouts are often dictated by the flow of the game. 

Erasmus referenced the Wales-New Zealand match, where the first scrum only came in the 23rd minute, to illustrate the unpredictability of these moments and emphasised the importance of planning for different situations within a game.

The Springboks have had their fair share of individual milestones on the tour, with Siya Kolisi reaching a century of appearances against France and RG Snyman reaching 50 last week against Ireland. This weekend marks the 50th appearance of 35-year-old Cobus Reinach. 

Erasmus was taken aback by the added responsibility Reinach had taken.

“Cobus has been unbelievable this year. He has taken a role where he is helping the other scrumhalves – taking a senior role with Grant Williams. I have never seen him so involved in planning and tactics,” said Reinach, who will play for Stormers this season. 

Reinach will show off his versatility as the coach is expecting him to contribute not only at scrumhalf but also as cover on the wing, alongside Kwagga Smith and Ben-Jason Dixon.

Erasmus added that Reinach accepted the decision to come off the bench for his 50th cap with the same humility shown by RG Snyman when he reached his own milestone.

The two-time Rugby World Cup-winning coach admitted that even though world rankings are not usually the Springboks’ primary focus, finishing the year number one in the rankings was the ultimate aim. 

It is worth noting that finishing number one in the rankings will come in handy ahead of the Rugby World Cup draw next month. 

Erasmus’s broader goals for the season included evolving South Africa’s playing style and testing the squad’s depth. “We didn’t have an easy ride, and next year we’ll come back here,” he said. 

“We’ve learned a lot about ourselves, but our game can still improve. The goal has been achieved, but we can throw everything away with a bad performance on Saturday.” 

With both Wales and South Africa missing several first-choice players, Erasmus stressed that the priority remains securing a victory. 

He highlighted the tenacity and fight of the Welsh who, in his view, “never give up.”

The Springboks will take the field with an average of nearly 40 caps and an average age profile around 27-28 years, but Erasmus said the contest remains difficult to predict, especially under a relatively novice referee at this level – Luc Ramos – taking charge of his first Springbok international. 

With an eye on the finish line, Erasmus emphasised his appreciation for Welsh rugby and its culture. “I enjoy the Welsh culture, especially the build-up,” he said gleefully. 

“We’ve been coming here since 2018,” he said. “We hope to win and fly home with our heads held high.”