Rassie Erasmus’ verdict on Springboks featuring in midweek games against the All Blacks

When Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour takes place next year, head coach Rassie Erasmus is uncertain if Springboks players would be able to play for their teams against the All Blacks. Details of New Zealand’s seven-game tour of South Africa were unveiled by SA Rugby and NZ Rugby on Thursday.

The eighth game will be held in an international location. In addition to playing all four United Rugby Championship clubs in midweek games using the classic tour format, the Springboks and All Blacks will play each other in a four-Test series.

The midweek matches can frequently turn out to be quite one-sided affairs, with the teams weaker since their best players skip the match because they are on international service, much like during the British and Irish Lions trips.

It’s difficult

“It will differ from player to player, like for example, now we have two weeks off, then we go back into camp, and then we play Japan, France, Ireland, Italy, and Wales,” Erasmus said in response to a question about whether this would be the case in 2026 when the All Blacks tour South Africa.

“Now, the Japan game is set up for us for the Japan-based players who don’t currently play in the league and for some players who are coming back from injury.”

It’s challenging to respond to the question, but if there are players who are not playing well next season, who have recovered from an injury, or who may be in the process of getting back to playing, they may play.

Details of the All Blacks’ eight-game trip of South Africa have been confirmed, marking rugby’s greatest rivalry. It’s really difficult, in my opinion, to play three games at home when in camp and busy getting ready for the Greatest Rivalry series.

• You probably want to attempt to win at least two of those games, if not all three, so the last one is a dead rubber wherever it is played. He went on to say that the Springboks will decide who is available for the midweek games.

“So, unfortunately, in my opinion, Springboks must get the decision-making there, but I guess we’ll have 36 players in our squad, but it will be stupidity from our side if there are 36 players in that squad; four or five who’ve played no rugby and you’ve got them for training the whole week,” he said.

“We can maybe train them Monday, Tuesday with you and let them go Wednesday and play against New Zealand.”

Lions series debacle, Kolisi’s excitement

This year, there was some controversy around the Wallabies’ availability to the Australian Super Rugby Pacific teams. Ben Calveley, the CEO of the Lions, warned Joe Schmidt that he would have to release players to their clubs for the midweek games. It’s a very obvious agreement,” he remarked. In order to participate in the games that precede that series, test players must be released. We anticipate that. We’ll play the game over the weekend and continue to talk with Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh, taking things one step at a time. The competitive nature of these games is crucial. In addition to being good for performance, it’s also appropriate for the broadcasters, partners, and supporters, all of whom anticipate competitive games. That would be their expectation as well.”

It’s unclear if the two unions’ agreement for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour next year contains similar provisions. The All Blacks’ upcoming tour of South Africa has excited Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, who said he thinks the New Zealanders would feel the same way.

As the Springboks and All Blacks launch Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, Rassie Erasmus denies accusations of “arrogance.” In particular, many New Zealanders will be visiting South Africa for the first time, especially after the SA teams quit Super Rugby.

For us players, it’s stimulating. All I’ve heard about are the excursions,” he remarked. Since I’ve never actually seen one like this, it will be novel and thrilling for us as participants.

Guys who have played on tours have told me a lot of stories, and it’s clear that our rivalry with New Zealand has always been fierce, as evidenced by the two games we played against them this year. Because they do have a lot of support in South Africa, they will also interact with the population and learn more about the country.

For the majority of them, who have never visited South Africa for a Super Rugby tour, it will be significant. I’m eager to experience it, and I know it will be thrilling. We enjoy taking group excursions as well, if I get the chance, although it has been a while since we have done one.