Boks to face ‘different brand of rugby’ on UK tour — Rassie

Despite being world champions and winning five out of six games to clinch this year’s Rugby Championship, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says next month’s three-Test tour of the UK will pose a massive, and an all-together different, challenge for his team.

Erasmus named a 34-man squad for the trip on Tuesday, which includes World Cup winners Franco Mostert, RG Snyman, Damian Willemse and Andre Esterhuizen, none of whom featured in the Rugby Championship because of injury.

The Boks face Scotland, England and Wales on consecutive weekends next month, hoping to end the season on a high. Erasmus though said playing in the northern hemisphere was very different to playing in the Rugby Championship.

‘Different test’

“The Outgoing Tour is always a tough test because it marks the end of our international season and the beginning of their season,” said Erasmus.

“That said, the November internationals always present a good challenge for us because the teams we will line up against are among the top sides in the world and they play a different brand of rugby to that which we faced in the Rugby Championship, which we enjoy because it tests us in a different way and allows us to grow as a team.

“The conditions in the northern hemisphere are also different, which is a new challenge all together, but we are excited about the tour and to see if we can build on what has been a rewarding season for the team so far.”

‘Confidence’

Some of the players not considered for the tour because of injury include Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Salmaan Moerat (both knee injuries), Steven Kitshoff (neck) and Lood de Jager (shoulder). Erasmus’ squad includes 18 forwards and 16 backs.

“We are under no illusions about the quality of the opposition we will face, and we have experienced first-hand how their home crowds lift them, much like our passionate supporters, so we know what it will take to be successful over there,” said the Bok boss.

“Fortunately, we have a squad that believes in themselves and their abilities, and that will be vital as we enter these matches.

“Obviously we’ll take confidence from winning the Rugby Championship, but the reality is that’s now history, and there’s no doubt that will motivate the opposition even more to make a strong statement against us.”

URC challenges

Erasmus, however, took comfort from the fact that most of the players have had the luxury of facing northern hemisphere opposition in the United Rugby Championship in recent weeks and said that would prepare the players better for the challenge ahead.

“Our URC teams have all travelled to the northern hemisphere already, so many of these players have been exposed to the conditions and as well as some of the players they will face in November, which is certainly beneficial to us,” said the Bok coach.

“But that said, international rugby is a completely different kettle of fish and that always brings the best out of the teams, so we know it will take a massive effort to win over there.”

The Boks will depart for a training camp in Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands between England and France, this coming Sunday. The group will then make the journey to Edinburgh on Sunday 3 November for their opening Test of the tour.