Boks confirm 'split squad' approach for Rugby Champs

INTERVIEW: Two different Springbok captains and two different teams will be used against Australia and New Zealand in the Rugby Championship in July.

South Africa’s Rugby Director of Rugby, Johan Erasmus, said with the Rugby Championship a condensed tournament in this World Cup year, it would make sense to split the resources – due to the time zones the team would have to travel through in one week.

The Springboks host Australia at Loftus on July 8 and then travel to Auckland in New Zealand for the second Test on July 15.

Erasmus responded to questions about the absence of Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi in the three Rugby Championship Tests and explained that there are ample candidates within the squad to lead the team.

“In determining the first two Test matches and how we tackle those in terms of our strategy, we might have two different captains just because the Rugby Championship is so condensed this year,” the SARU boss said.

“For us to fly with a team, and I don’t think it’s a secret, that it’s impossible almost to play Australia here, get on a plane and arrive there on a Tuesday.

“I think it’s almost disrespectful in thinking you are going to arrive on a Tuesday and beat New Zealand flying through those time zones,” Erasmus added.

This would separate mean two teams will be in action one week apart and the Director of Rugby confirmed as much.

“That might bring two different captains into play.

“We have Steven Kitshoff [that can captain the side], both hookers can be captain, also Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit has been captain.

“Duane Vermeulen has been the Springbok captain, Damian de Allende has been vice-captain, Lukhanyo Am has been captain at his franchise.

“We have explained that to the players, but we don’t want to speculate now, four weeks out from the first Test match, because we are still sorting out injuries, and Handré Pollard is certainly one of those.

“But there are six or seven guys who will help out at certain stages [as captain],” he explained.

(WATCH as South Africa’s Director of Rugby Johan Erasmus confirms the ‘split squad’ approach for the Rugby Championship…)

SPRINGBOKS 2023 CALENDER:

Rugby Championship:
Saturday, 8 July – Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 15 July – Springboks vs New Zealand (Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)
Saturday, 29 July – Springboks vs Argentina (Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg)

Rugby World Cup 2023 warm-up fixtures:
Saturday, 5 August – Springboks v Argentina (Buenos Aires)
Saturday, 19 August – Springboks vs Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)
Friday, 25 August – Springboks vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London)

Rugby World Cup 2023 fixtures:
Sunday, 10 September – Springboks v Scotland (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – Springboks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – Springboks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, 1 October – Springboks v Tonga (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)

Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final