Rassie Erasmus insists discarded veterans still in Springboks plans

De Klerk and Koch, both Rugby World Cup winners, were part of the recent Springbok training camp and featured in the double-header against the Barbarians, but will not be involved in the opening Nations Championship fixtures. Instead, they have been released to play for the Barbarians against Wales at Twickenham this weekend.

Erasmus stressed that their omission should not be interpreted as a step away from international contention, insisting that several senior and fringe players are still being monitored as part of a wider talent pool being managed ahead of the 2026 season and the next World Cup cycle.

"There's a much longer list than just Faf and Vincent," Erasmus said, highlighting that players such as Bongi Mbonambi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Sebastian de Klerk, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Trevor Nyakane also remain in consideration. "Every player's situation is different."

A key factor in the current squad composition is the management of the scrumhalf department, where Erasmus prefers to work with four specialist number nines across different stages of their careers. For the Nations Championship squad, those roles are filled by Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams, Embrose Papier and Herschel Jantjies.

Erasmus explained that the balance of experience is deliberate, with Reinach returning as the senior figure at 35, supported by Williams as a more established Test option and Papier and Jantjies offering opportunities for further assessment.

"We always like to have four nines in our squad," he said. "We feel more comfortable having that balance, and we like one senior player to guide the younger guys."

The recall of Jantjies is particularly significant, with the scrumhalf returning to the national setup for the first time since 2023 after strong performances at club level in France with Bayonne. His inclusion comes as part of a broader effort to reassess players previously on the fringes of selection.

"We know what Faf can do," Erasmus said. "We've worked with him, we've trained with him and we know his value. But now we want to have a proper look at Herschel."

Erasmus also revealed that the squad is far from fixed beyond the opening fixtures, with rotation and targeted selection expected throughout the Nations Championship schedule, which includes Tests against England, Scotland and Wales.

"There are another 15 to 17 players who are injured, being rested or who may be better suited to specific matches later in the campaign," he said.

Despite the experimentation, Erasmus emphasised that planning is already advanced, with match selections mapped out well in advance.

"We have plans for the Scotland game and the Wales game, and the team to play England is already decided," he said. "Internally, those plans are already in place."

While some absences have raised eyebrows, Erasmus reiterated that the wider objective remains unchanged: building depth and clarity across the squad ahead of the next World Cup cycle, ensuring that every player in contention is given a fair opportunity to prove their value on the international stage.