SA rugby talent pipeline in overdrive

Rassie Erasmus believes South Africa’s player pathway is stronger and better aligned than ever, writes LINDIZ VAN ZILLA.

Speaking at a Springbok media day alongside SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer and Bok assistant coaches Tony Brown and Duane Vermeulen, Erasmus outlined how alignment from junior level, through the Varsity Cup, the new U23 competition and into the URC structures is bearing fruit.

“It’s mostly a high-performance decision,” said Oberholzer of the relaunched U20 and new U23 competitions.

“It doesn’t cost us more money and we’re not losing money. We’re shifting existing funds into an U23 competition so more youngsters can get game time when they’re not being used by the URC franchises.”

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Erasmus added that consistent exposure to high-performance set-ups is vital.

“If we don’t get our younger players into environments where they just get better and better, you can’t expect them to suddenly be ready at 23 or 24,” he said. “The system is working for us at this stage, and we must keep it going.”

He also stressed the importance of alignment camps in facilitating the eventual transition to Test rugby.

“An alignment camp is for a player to come in and understand what this environment is about,” Erasmus explained. “You don’t have to impress anyone. You sit, you listen and you learn how we do things. It’s about understanding the standards, the culture and what’s expected at Springbok level.”

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Five SA U20 players have been invited to this week’s alignment camp in Cape Town. They are 2025 Junior World Championship-winning captain and utility forward Riley Norton and his SA U20 teammates from last year, utility back Cheswill Jooste and hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele, while two players from the 2025 SA U18 squad who recently toured with the Junior Boks in Georgia, prop Kai Pratt and centre Markus Muller, also feature in the group.

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On the Varsity Cup, Erasmus admitted he was initially sceptical about law innovations but now appreciates the value of the tournament.

“You see the crowds and the students love it, and we’ve got great players coming through that system,” he said. “If one or two more players come through because of it, then they’re achieving what they set out to do.”

Varsity Cup star Ntokozo Makhaza was famously plucked from the ranks of student rugby to join the Bok squad last year.

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Meanwhile, Brown, who joined the Bok management from New Zealand, was emphatic about the country’s natural talents.

“The players here are as skilful as anyone I’ve ever coached,” he said. “It’s about bringing those skills out within a team environment. They’ve got the speed and the X factor – now it’s about how they fit into the team and use that talent.”

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Vermeulen, who works closely with SA Rugby’s junior structures, praised the work being done at junior level.

“What [SA Rugby general manager of high performance] Dave Wessels, [Junior Boks coach] Kevin Foote and the coaches are doing is exceptional,” he said. “The pathway has grown a lot. It looks fruitful and we’re in a fantastic spot.”

On players such as young star loose forward Josh Neil opting to represent Ireland over South Africa, Vermeulen was pragmatic.

“It’s about opportunity and personal preference,” he said. “You’d love them to stay, but there are a lot of youngsters coming through. The key is making sure our system gives them every chance to succeed here.”

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Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images