With only 10 days to go until the Springboks kick off their 2025 season against the Barbarians in Cape Town, Rassie Erasmus (head coach), Felix Jones (assistant coach), and Siya Kolisi (captain) all expressed their eagerness for an exciting yet challenging international season ahead as the squad nears the completion of their second week of training in Johannesburg.
The Boks face the BaaBaas for the Qatar Airways Cup next Saturday (28 June), before lining up against Italy in back-to-back Tests in Pretoria (5 July) and Gqeberha (12 July) before they wrap up the Castle Lager Incoming Series against Georgia in Nelspruit (19 July).
Erasmus’ charges, who are close to being a full contingent of players following the arrival of the Vodacom Bulls players, Leinster lock RG Snyman, and Leicester Tigers flyhalf Handre Pollard after their involvement in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and Gallagher Premiership Finals last weekend, have hit the ground running, and both the coach and Kolisi were pleased with the progress made at training so far.
“We are well on track with our preparations for the Barbarians game,” said Erasmus.
“Some of the players are making a strong return from injury, and we’ve now had time for the players to settle back into our setup from their franchises and clubs.
“Some of the players had fitness tests yesterday (on Tuesday) and have been involved in team meetings and been exposed to the way we want to do things on the field after the two alignment camps earlier in the year, so we are confident we’ll all be back on the same page on Thursday.”
The only two players who have yet to report for duty are prop Thomas du Toit and the latest addition to the squad, Boan Venter, who will join their teammates at different stages in the next week, according to international regulations.
“We are excited about the season ahead and being back in camp,” said Kolisi.
“For most of us, it’s hard to say goodbye at the end of each season, so being back together and to see a guy like Lood (de Jager – who is back from a long injury layoff), was also great.
“On the field, we are training well, and our sessions are close to match intensity, so we are pleased with how things are going.”
Looking ahead at their forthcoming matches – the first of which will be their first ever match on home soil against the Barbarians – Erasmus said: “We wanted to play against them, and we know it will be a good test for us. They are a team that enjoys playing what they see, but the focus for us in that match will be on our structures.
“They have included some very experienced campaigners and great players in world rugby in their squad, so it will be a good assignment for us to get back into the swing of things at this level.”
Zoning in on the Castle Lager Incoming Series, the double Rugby World Cup-winning coach said: “Italy will obviously pose a different challenge. They did well in their first two Six Nations matches, but they are a team that we can analyse, although we will certainly not underestimate them.
“I’ve seen them beat us before, so it will be an important two matches against them. Georgia is also a challenging team on a good day, so the key for us will be to drive our own standards.”
Jones, meanwhile, was thrilled to be back in South Africa after a short stint with England after assisting in steering the Springboks to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023.
“It’s been great to be back with the coaches and to see how we’ve evolved as a team, especially if one looks at how things have changed since then,” said Jones.
“We know we need to keep growing and improving, and we are working hard on achieving that on the field.”
Kolisi also congratulated the Proteas for winning the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia at Lords: “Their victory was huge, and it’s great to see how whenever South Africa plays, the whole nation gets behind them.
“The way they won was also fantastic, especially since there was a point where many doubted they would pull it through, so it was an admirable team effort, and we are very proud of Temba Bavuma, coach Shukri Conrad, and the entire team.”
The Springboks will return home on Thursday to spend time with their families and will reassemble in Cape Town on Sunday for their historic encounter against the Barbarians.