Why Rassie Erasmus cut Springboks’ holiday short ahead of Championship

SPRINGBOK coach Rassie Erasmus says cutting short the Springboks break doesn’t necessarily relate to their performances against Italy and Georgia, but more to do with working with a streamlined squad ahead of the Rugby Championship.

- JOHN GOLIATH

Erasmus and his staff had close to 50 players in camp for the two-Test series against Italy and the one-off match against Georgia. But the squad of players have since been cut to 37 ahead of their opening two Rugby Championship matches against Australia at home next month.

Erasmus admitted that this week’s training camp was not originally part of their schedule, as the players were supposed to enjoy a two-week break after the win over Georgia at the Mbombela Stadium.

But the players were called back a week earlier to prepare for their Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on August 16. The Springboks and Aussies will then travel to Cape Town for their second match a week later on August 23.

Many supporters and pundits feel that the Springboks weren’t quite at their best against Italy and Georgia, despite putting up 45-point winning margins in the final two Test matches against the visiting teams.