VIDEO: Rassie says being No. 1 not the focus now
VIDEO: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says being No. 1 in the world is not their main focus at the moment.
According to the Bok coach, it will only matter in 2025 when the draw for the 2027 World Cup happens.
Erasmus was asked about retaining the first place in the rankings, but the Bok coach was casual about it, saying at the moment it only means bragging rights to the top team in the world.
When the latest world rankings came out this week, World Rugby announced that South Africa will have to wait until November before they get a chance to reclaim their place at the top of the world rankings.
Ireland replaced them as the official world’s best team when the Springboks fell to the agonising defeat in Santiago del Estero, ending the Springboks’ 13-month unbroken reign at the top.
And they will stay there until the internationals resume in November.
For Erasmus building depth in the team he is preparing to take to the next World Cup, has been paramount, and not so much their position in the world rankings.
“Being No. 1 is only important at the end of 2025 when they select the pools,” Erasmus commented.
“It doesn’t matter now.
“It is only bragging rights for whoever is at the top now.
“Only at the end of 2025 [will] it count for the draw,” the Bok coach explained.
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He expanded on the journey he started with the Springboks when he took over from Jacques Nienaber, and from the start he has reiterated that building depth and getting Test caps under the belt for the younger players, has been is main focus.
“We would like to retain the No. 1 spot but we’ve created depth so far while being in the Rugby Championships and playing Wales and Portugal.
“I think we capped eleven players in Cape Town, new players that’s only played for South Africa for the first time this year.
“Then there are guys like Jan-Hendrik [Wessels] who showed last weekend that he can play hooker and prop and that answered some questions.
“A guy like Ruan Nortje wasn’t even in our mix in the beginning if you look at our succession planning but he grabbed his opportunity.
“He was probably ranked fifth of the five locks if I must be honest. And then with Lood [de Jager] going down, RG [Snyman] going down, and then Franco [Mostert] going down he was the fifth guy in, and he just took that position.
“He will make mistakes, he is a young guy, [but] he can go to the next World Cup,” Erasmus said.
Among the forwards, Johan Grobbelaar and Gerhard Steenekamp have come into the Bok setup with relative ease.
And looking at the flyhalf position, Erasmus said Damian Willemse must still return from injury but Sacha Feinberg-Mngomelu made full use of the chances he got, while Manie Libbok is also young enough to go to the next World Cup.
“We are trying to create depth but trying to stay on top, has always been in the back of our heads.”
*Click here to read Why Boks won’t be No.1 soon
