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Erasmus admits no margin for error for Springboks at 2027 Rugby World Cup
The Mercury
|December 05, 2025
THE Springboks’ old World Cup habit — dropping a pool match early and then storming through the knockout stages with their backs against the wall — won't be part of the Rassie Erasmus playbook this time.
A revamped tournament format has stripped away that margin for error, meaning South Africa will have to treat every fixture, from the opening whistle in Pool B to the final in Australia, as must-win territory if they hope to claim an unprecedented third straight title and a record fifth crown overall.
Under Erasmus in 2019 and the 2023 World Cup-winning coach Jacques Nienaber, the Boks were able to lose a pool game and still go on to win the trophy. Every match after those losses — to New Zealand in 2019 and Ireland in 2023 — effectively became a knockout for the side.
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