It’s not often a Springbok Test win gets overshadowed on home soil, but this weekend may just qualify. While the senior team eased past Georgia in Nelspruit, it was the Junior Boks who truly stole the spotlight, clinching the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Rovigo with a commanding 23-15 win over the Junior All Blacks.
Led by Riley Norton, there was nothing “babyish” about this performance. The eight-point margin flattered New Zealand. No side came closer to toppling South Africa throughout the tournament. In humid Italian conditions, both teams were forced into handling errors, but the defensive effort was immense – and it was the Boks’ trademark mix of forward brutality and electric counter-attacking that defined the game.
This generation of Junior Springboks looks eerily like the senior side: punishing mauls, physical dominance, but also the kind of fluid backline interplay that points to a maturing attacking mindset. It’s clear now – South African rugby is in good hands. And Erasmus has a pipeline humming with future internationals.
Back in Nelspruit, the senior Boks wrapped up their four-match start to the Test season with a patchy but ultimately comfortable win against Georgia. The attacking highlights came late, with sparkling offloads and line breaks once the Georgians began to fade. Earlier, the now-familiar power game – set-piece control and rolling mauls – laid the foundation.
It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. Handling errors and breakdown misfires crept in again. But that was always on the cards, given the selection roulette played across the four matches – starting with the Barbarians game and continuing through Italy, Wales, and now Georgia.
Erasmus has been upfront about this being a period of experimentation, and to his credit, the strategy is working. The Boks have used over 45 players so far this season, building enviable depth. But as the Rugby Championship looms, the time for chopping and changing is drawing to a close.
Rassie hinted as much in the post-match comments. The 36-man squad to be named this week for the Wallabies Tests will still feature a few newcomers – he named Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse, Quan Horn, and Renzo du Plessis – but most selections will be geared toward continuity and cohesion.
“We’re fairly happy if you look over the four games,” Erasmus said. “We scored close to 50 points in each match and, apart from Italy, defended well. Georgia were disruptive, but chopping and changing teams costs you rhythm.”
Interestingly, Erasmus also seemed to take a veiled swipe at New Zealand’s similar experiment in their third Test against France – a match the All Blacks nearly lost after fielding a much-changed side.
So, what’s next? The Wallabies don’t pose the same threat they once did. Despite a late flourish in their first Lions Test, the gap in quality was obvious. South Africa should be too strong at home – even with one or two fresh faces in the matchday squad.
The real focus is the doubleheader in New Zealand that follows. That’s where Erasmus will want his combinations settled, his bench reliable, and his leaders firing.
Across four Tests, the Boks have scored 22 tries and conceded just four. They’ve rotated heavily, won big, and unearthed new stars. And judging by what we saw in Rovigo, there’s even more talent waiting in the wings.
The present is strong. The future? Possibly stronger.
