Rassie Erasmus has confirmed the Springboks' one-off Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires next weekend will serve a dual purpose: honouring a scheduled fixture against Los Pumas while simultaneously functioning as a form and fitness assessment for the four-Test Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand in August and September.
Speaking after the squad assembled in Johannesburg, Erasmus said the Argentina match remains the immediate priority but acknowledged the All Blacks loom large in the background. "First and foremost, we want to beat Argentina. Just like every other team, we want to win every Test match we play," he said. "Then there's the bigger picture: the Rugby World Cup, which is close to a year away — but you also have to respect the team you play next week."
Ten players are returning from injury in time for the Buenos Aires trip, with only Ox Nche and Franco Mostert ruled out due to longer-term issues. Erasmus specifically mentioned André Esterhuizen, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu among those working their way back to full availability. "Argentina are a quality team, and you'll quickly see who is ready to play against New Zealand two weeks later," Erasmus said.
Erasmus will name the travelling squad on Saturday. Players not selected for Argentina will remain at the Johannesburg training base to begin their All Blacks preparations ahead of the RGR series, which runs across Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Baltimore.
On squad management through the transition, Erasmus was direct: he does not want players retained in camp without the prospect of game time, but equally will not release players if it leaves the Springboks short in specific positions for the New Zealand Tests. He also flagged that further releases from the broader group are possible if players fail to get sufficient game time across the Springbok fixtures. "Taking players on tour without being able to give them a game for their franchise against the All Blacks would not be the right thing," he said. "But we also don't want to release players if we're not 100% sure we're covered in those positions for the All Black Tests."
Erasmus said he had seen the All Blacks' touring squad announcement but had not studied it in detail, keeping his focus firmly on Argentina for now.