Rassie releases two Springboks ahead of Australia Test
NEWS: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende have been released from the squad and will not face Australia in Perth next Sunday.
The experienced duo have been given time with their families following a demanding Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry campaign, with Erasmus confident the Springboks have enough cover within their travelling squad for the one-off Test against the Wallabies.
The teams will meet for the first time this year at Optus Stadium on Sunday, September 27, with the Springboks arriving in Australia after their 3-1 series triumph over New Zealand.
Erasmus and captain Siya Kolisi stressed, however, that the Wallabies will present an entirely different challenge to the All Blacks.
“They’ll be really fresh and they’ve won four out of five of their recent matches, while we come off a tough series against New Zealand,” Erasmus said.
“But RGR and this match have nothing to do with each other. This is a completely different challenge.”
The match will carry added significance with Australia set to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup, where the Springboks will open their campaign against Italy in Adelaide on Sunday, October 3.
Erasmus said the Springboks would not treat the Test as a low-key end to their demanding campaign.
“This is a Test match against a country we’ve had a rivalry with since I can remember,” he said.
“It’s not a tour we want to finish off casually. This is a great country, and the World Cup is being hosted here next year, so it’s massive to be able to play against the World Cup hosts in a big Test match.”
Kolisi echoed Erasmus’ comments, saying the Springboks would need to adapt their approach despite maintaining their core principles.
“You always adjust for each team, but our core values are going to remain the same,” said Kolisi.
“Australia is completely different to New Zealand, so we’ll have to readjust certain things. It’s going to be a big challenge.”
The Springboks are currently based in Terrigal, north of Sydney, before travelling to Perth next Thursday.
Kolisi admitted the journey from the USA had been demanding but said the squad had already settled into their Australian preparations.
“It’s been a long journey, but it was a great success in the USA, and being here in Australia now and preparing for this game is really important,” he said.
“It’s a team we’ve had some tough battles against, but training has been going well this week and it’s good being here in Terrigal.”
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