Rassie Erasmus has confirmed the Springboks will use next weekend's Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires as final preparation for the four-match Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand in August and September.
Speaking after the squad assembled in Johannesburg, Erasmus outlined his dual focus ahead of the Los Pumas fixture. "First and foremost, we want to beat Argentina. Just like every other team, we want to win every Test match we play," said Erasmus. "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."
The head coach will announce his travelling squad on Saturday, with those not selected returning to the Johannesburg training base to begin preparations for the All Blacks series, which features Tests in Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Baltimore.
Injury Update
Erasmus provided encouraging news on player availability, confirming that Eben Etzebeth and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu have been cleared to play against Argentina. Only two players remain unavailable for selection. "There are only two guys who won't be available due to longer-term injuries and they are Ox Nche and Franco Mostert," said Erasmus. "Apart from them, everyone is ready to play."
The return of multiple players from injury spells presents both opportunity and challenge for the coaching staff. Erasmus acknowledged the situation was not ideal, noting the preference would have been to manage player workloads from the outset rather than navigating a wave of returning personnel.
The depth built through heavy squad rotation over recent seasons positions the Springboks well for the intensity of four back-to-back Tests against New Zealand. With the opening fixture at Ellis Park on 22 August, the management will have one final opportunity in Buenos Aires to assess combinations before the series begins in earnest.