Dave Rennie praises 'unbelievable job' Rassie Erasmus has done building the Springboks

Erasmus has been at the forefront of South Africa's turnaround since 2018, taking over as head coach from Allister Coetzee when the Boks were ranked seventh on the World Rugby rankings.

He led the side to Rugby World Cup glory in Japan the following year before handing over the head coaching reins to Jacques Nienaber as he assumed the director of rugby duties. He remained heavily involved with the team between 2020 and 2023 before reclaiming the coaching reins two years ago.

Last year, South Africa won 12 of their 14 Test matches, going unbeaten in November after winning the Rugby Championship, and have started 2026 similarly, winning all three of their opening matches despite Erasmus making a plethora of changes from week to week during the July Nations Championship games.

Most notably, the Springboks boss named an incredibly youthful outfit to face Scotland at Loftus Versfeld in round two of the competition. Despite that, they managed to claim a 42-28 victory in Pretoria, which impressed the All Blacks head coach.

"I mean they're phenomenal, aren't they? They made so many changes against Scotland, who are an excellent side, and still were able to dominate that game," he remarked after naming his touring squad for Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour.

"Rassie has done an unbelievable job over the last eight years. He's probably the most innovative coach. I think he's incredibly influential too, and they've done a good job around World Rugby. We know that they will be very detailed and very planned. They would have watched our series closely.

"He has used a lot of players that we know a fair bit about; a lot of his boys play in Japan, a lot of them play in Europe, and then they've got guys who are playing in that URC. They have got amazing depth - that's exciting. It's a good challenge for us, and we will learn a lot about ourselves over the first three weeks leading into that first Test."

Realising the challenge that awaits his team in South Africa, the head coach wasn't willing to disclose what he expects from his charges throughout the series.

"I will probably be safer not to comment on that," Rennie quipped after being asked what his minimum requirements are.

"But we want to win, and we want to win each week. We are playing the best team in the world, and it couldn't come at a better time for us.

"We've had a month together. I think we've made good shifts. We have got an understanding of our DNA and a game we want to play, and we just need to get better, and now we're going to be tested against phenomenal sides on their home pitch.

"It's exciting. So I'm not particularly looking at numbers and things; we'll focus on it one game at a time, and I guarantee these boys will empty the tank each week."

Rennie's main remit as head coach is to get the All Blacks back on track for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and he believes that the tour of South Africa will provide plenty of answers as to which players are up to scratch as they build towards the tournament.

He has included three uncapped players in his squad and has recalled Timoci Tavatavanawai, Emoni Narawa, Rieko Ioane, Fabian Holland, George Bell, Ollie Norris and Ethan Blackadder, who were not involved during the Nations Championship.