Rassie Erasmus has wrapped up the second and final Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town, declaring the group in a good place while acknowledging the outcomes will only truly be measured once competitive rugby begins.
More than 60 players attended the two camps in total as Erasmus and his staff cast a wide net, exposing fringe and younger players to Springbok standards and structures ahead of a heavily loaded international season. Some players who could not attend in person participated virtually, while others were absent through injury.
"What we've tried to introduce with the alignment camps was to bring in young players who haven't been part of our system, and others who have only been to one or two camps," Erasmus said. "In that sense, the players are starting to feel more comfortable. They also got the opportunity to know the coaches and a little more about the structures."
Erasmus was careful not to overstate the camps' significance in isolation. "Every year after an alignment camp, we say we are happy with where we are currently, but I guess it will only be clear when we start playing. It's easy to talk now. Obviously, it has to translate onto the field."
SA Rugby confirmed the training squad for the first camp will be named within the next two weeks. The Springboks open their season against the Barbarians on 20 June — with South Africa A facing Zimbabwe the same day — before the Nations Championship home leg sees them host England in Johannesburg (4 July), Scotland in Pretoria (11 July) and Wales in Durban (18 July).
The schedule then moves to Argentina in Buenos Aires on 8 August, followed by the four-Test Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks across August and September. A trip to Perth to face the Wallabies on 27 September precedes the Nations Championship European leg: Italy (7 November), France (13 November) and Ireland (21 November), with the Finals Weekend in London rounding out the year on 27 to 29 November.