Springbok Coach Rassie Erasmus said that despite recent results suggesting that the gap is getting bigger between the Top nations and the rest, he disagrees stating that results depend a lot on the phase the teams are.
"I remember when we took over in 2018, we were sixth in the world, and within a year and a half, we won the World Cup."
"So things can change very quickly. I think Australia can turn it around if certain things happen. England almost beat the All Blacks, and everybody said England was on a downward slope."
" So I wouldn't say the gap is getting bigger. It's the phases where teams are, and sometimes I know people hate rebuilding, but some guys are getting old, younger guys come in, and coaching staff and philosophy changes."
"I think all teams like to peak at the World Cup while trying to win everything."
Erasmus also clarified that he does not pay enough attention to the rankings.
"The rankings, almost for me, in the first three years towards the World Cup, it's almost a bit irrelevant."
"It's just if you can try and win every test match, and build a squad, that's what we're trying to do. So we don't look as much to the rankings as we should."