The core group of Springboks who lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019 will start the biggest matches and are primed to defend their crown this year, writes MARK KEOHANE.
“This international season is all about the World Cup. The Rugby Championship of three matches is secondary to the World Cup defence and more a means to an end than the end,” he writes.
“These six Tests preceding the World Cup are all about the second cabs off the rank, per position, and the make-up of the most potent finishing options. “Erasmus and [Bok coach Jacques] Nienaber have consistently said the core group of players they identified in 2018 were potential World Cup winners in France, 2023.
“The fact that this group gelled so magnificently in 2019 to win the title, was a bonus. The thinking has always been that the 2019 group was young enough and old enough to peak at the 2023 World Cup. “Don’t read too much into the starting selections in the pre-World Cup games … what they want comfort in is the quality of the back-up squad players.”
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