In a December 2025 interview with Planet Rugby, Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi discussed the internal standards of the South African national team and his personal journey back into the squad.
Fassi emphasised that there is "totally no chance" of complacency within the Springbok camp despite their 2024 successes, such as winning the Rugby Championship and their European tour. He stated that coaches constantly challenge players to improve and that “no two weeks in camp are the same.”
“The boys are a million miles from being complacent. The coaches constantly challenge us to become better. No two weeks in camp are the same.”
“As I see it, you’re either playing for the best team in the world, and you want to stay in the best team in the world. Or you’re training against the best team in the world to be able to improve your skills.”
During a period of being excluded from the squad and suffering from injuries, Fassi reached out to captain Siya Kolisi. Kolisi advised him to communicate more with coaches and focus equally on his weaknesses and strengths, specifically urging him to show more “dominance and physicality.”
“Siya has long reminded us that when you put on the Springbok jersey, you not only put it on for yourself, but for the young kid who hopes to wear it one day; for the 65 million people of South Africa whose dreams we carry.”
“He talks about us putting that jersey on to unite South Africa as a whole. We know people face many challenges, and we don’t forget that. It gives us something bigger than rugby to play for.”
Fassie said that wearing the green and gold jersey is a responsibility to the “65 million people of South Africa,” a perspective often shared by the team's leadership.