Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that South Africa Rugby blocked him from capping Benhard Janse van Rensburg after he gave CEO Jurie Roux an early assurance that the Bristol Bears centre was not an immediate selection priority.
Erasmus revealed that when Roux first asked whether he intended capping Janse van Rensburg, he indicated there was no plan to do so that year. Roux subsequently committed to World Rugby and England that South Africa would not pursue the player. When Erasmus later changed his mind — with the Boks thin at centre heading into June's Barbarians and South Africa A fixtures — Roux held him to that promise.
"We were looking at him, and we wanted to cap him, but because of a promise I made to the CEO and one he made to World Rugby, we didn't pursue it," Erasmus said.
Janse van Rensburg, who was born in South Africa and came through Griquas, was included in England's extended 36-man Nations Championship squad following an RFU appeal to World Rugby. He does not fully qualify for England until 8 July, ruling him out of this weekend's Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park. He is expected to make his debut when England face Fiji.
Erasmus named only three specialist centres in his extended 46-man Nations Championship squad, making the missed opportunity at least contextually relevant, though he was measured about the outcome.
"We're glad he's not playing this match against us. He's from the Free State, he played for Griquas, we know him well. He's a tough man, and that's why we considered him. But the fair thing is to give him a chance where he is."
Erasmus also pushed back against the broader criticism of England selecting a South African-born player, drawing a parallel with South Africa's own history of capping players such as Tendai Mtawarira and the Tshituka brothers. "We follow the protocol," he said.