Boks' tour success rests on France and Ireland clashes

The team has the depth to go undefeated on its five-match northern hemisphere tour next month

- By Jon Cardinelli

Having successfully defended their Rugby Championship title, the Springboks will have another point to prove when they tackle the Six Nations champions as well as their bogey side on a monumental five-match tour to Europe in November.

If the Boks come through the sojourn with victories against France and Ireland, and possibly five wins overall, they will head into the 2027 World Cup draw on 3 December as Test rugby's leading team and early favourites for yet another global crown.

The tour to Europe will simulate a World Cup campaign. Rassie Erasmus has selected 36 players – although 10 more are on standby – and will have to juggle his resources carefully across games played against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.

The importance of the matches in Paris (8 November) and Dublin (22 November) may influence his selections during the five-match block. Everything may be geared towards peaking against France in week two and Ireland in week four.

There are, however, a few management challenges that Erasmus and company will have to navigate in the buildup.

The quirky nature of the Test schedule sees the first tour game against Japan (1 November) and the last against Wales (29 November) falling outside the sanctioned international window.

The upshot is that the Boks may be without Europe-based stars such as Thomas du Toit and RG Snyman for the clashes in London and Cardiff.

Although local and Europe-based Boks have featured in the respective club competitions since the conclusion of the Rugby Championship, the 10-man Japan-based contingent has been dormant as the Japanese club season doesn't start until December.

Erasmus has already suggested that the likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx and others based in the Far East will be unleashed against Japan at Wembley. This will ensure that they have some game time under the belt before they battle France a week later.