VIDEO: Rassie to reveal his Irish hand early

The South African squad for the two-Test series against Ireland will be announced on Sunday evening or Monday morning.

After giving a handful of rookies a run in the one-off Test against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, securing a comfortable 41-13 win, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is set to bring in a few more of his established veterans ahead of the big mid-year series.

The Boks face the Irish at Loftus Versfeld on July 6 and at Kings Park a week later.

Erasmus said the medical team would assess the ‘bumps and bruises’ suffered in the win over Wales, as well as any potential injuries in the Bulls camp following their loss to Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship Final at Loftus Versfeld.

The Springboks will return to South Africa from London on Monday.

However, the squad for the Ireland series will be finalised before then.

World Cup winners set to return ahead of the two-Test series against Ireland include regular captain Siya Kolisi, Leinster-bound lock RG Snyman, veteran prop Trevor Nyakane, centre Lukhanyo Am, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, along with prop Gerhard Steenekamp, flank Marco van Staden, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and a few of their Bulls teammates from the URC Final.

Erasmus said he doesn’t see it as ‘selection headaches’, but rather a “good situation to be in”.

(WATCH as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus reveals what plans he has to get the squad together ahead of the two-Test series against Ireland….)

* Turning his attention to the Twickenham outing, Erasmus said it was “goal achieved”.

“It wasn’t a perfect performance,” Erasmus said of the second-half shut-out of Wales – leading by one point (14-13) at the half-time break, before racing clear for a comfortable win.

“We made a lot of stupid errors and there were things that didn’t click,” the Bok coach said, adding: “There were others that did, so it was a good start.

“We have new coaches and had a few players making their debuts.

“There were areas of the game that were not as good as we would have liked it to be, but there was certainly no lack of effort and intensity, and we realise it will take time for things together nicely.

“The important thing is that we achieved our goal and the players who made their debuts showed that they are capable at playing at this level.”

The competitive first half also gave Erasmus some answers.

“I thought our scrums went well, but we didn’t dominate the collisions.

“We also conceded a try, but we scored five and we could have scored more.

“Those are things we need to work on going forward.”

He described the game as “beneficial”, with star No.8 Jasper Wiese is still sidelined through suspension.

“Some of the Japanese players haven’t played in a while.

“Some of the young guys stepped up to the plate and played well.”

@king365ed
@rugby365com