Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is currently in the midst of a structured four-year cycle aimed at securing a third consecutive title at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Following the confirmation of the tournament fixtures on 3 February 2026, Erasmus stated that the team will "leave no stone unturned" as they transition from broad squad-building to pinpoint logistical planning.
Erasmus is prioritising 2027 readiness over immediate silverware, such as the 2026 Nations Championship, stating he will not sacrifice long-term preparation for short-term gains.
With the schedule now public, Erasmus has highlighted several key focus areas for the next 18 months.
Erasmus noted that recent Rugby Championship matches in these cities have given the team valuable experience with the local conditions.
The winner and runner-up in each of the six pools and the four best-placed third teams will then advance to the round of 16. Should the Springboks finish first or second in Pool B, their first playoff match will be hosted in Perth, while the quarter-final will be played out in Sydney, which is also the host venue for the semi-finals and final.
A major concern for the 2027 campaign is the nearly five-hour flight and two-hour time difference between Perth, where the Springboks will play in their Round of 16, and Sydney for the quarter-final. According to SA Rugby, the logistics teams are already working to ensure player freshness despite these distances.
“It’s pleasing that we now know where and when we are playing, and we are fortunate that we have played in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, and Sydney in the last few years in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus.
“We can now go full steam ahead with our planning and preparation for the tournament, and we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that we are as fresh and well prepared as possible for the competition.”
“Our operations and logistics team will start getting into the finer details of the travel in the coming weeks, with our pool matches being hosted in different cities, while the coaches and high-performance staff will start having in-depth discussions about how to manage the players during the tournament to get the best out of them on the field.”
“The one thing that pops out looking at the schedule is that, should we progress to the playoffs, there will be travel between the round of 16 and quarter-final, which is something we have to factor into our planning, as the flight is just under five hours between Perth and Sydney, and there is a two-hour time difference.”
“Over and above that, our likely opponents could be either Australia or New Zealand, and it would be good to see their travel schedules. But obviously, we have to make it through first, which will require a massive effort.”
“There’s a lot of hard work ahead in the next 18 months, but we are all very excited for the tournament and we are looking forward to putting the building blocks in place this season and next year before we depart for Australia.”
Springbok RWC 2027 fixtures:
Pool stages:
Sunday, 3 October – 14h15 (05h45 SA time): SA v Italy (Adelaide Oval)
Sunday, 10 October – 16h45 (08h45 SA time): SA v Georgia (Brisbane Stadium)
Sunday, 17 October – 19h15 (13h15 SA time): SA v Romania (Perth Stadium)
Round of 16:
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October (Perth Stadium/Docklands Stadium, Melbourne)
Quarter-finals:
Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October (Stadium Australia, Sydney/Brisbane Stadium)
Semi-finals:
Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Final:
Saturday 13 November – 20h00 (11h00 SA time): Stadium Australia, Sydney