Courtney Lawes's assessment of the Springboks, delivered on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, cuts to something beyond just the scorelines. After South Africa averaged 43 points per game across their three-from-three Nations Championship wins over England, Scotland and Wales — rotating 43 players in the process — Lawes zeroed in on the cultural machinery underneath it all. His point isn't about tactics; it's about the environment Erasmus has built over time, one where there are no disgruntled fringe players leaking grievances, no internal noise, just immediate buy-in from every player who enters the camp. The contrast with England's well-documented camp culture issues is left implicit but unmistakable. Lawes credits longevity as the key ingredient — Erasmus has had the time to make the system self-replicating, so new players arrive already absorbed into it.
Lawes: The Boks are 'operating like a religion' — and it's not going away
Lawes argues the Boks' real edge isn't depth or structure — it's a camp culture so locked-in it functions like a religion, and Erasmus has had long enough in charge to make it self-sustaining.
- Springboks
- Nations Championship
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Rassie Erasmus
Rassie on Alles Ep 1 | The Barbarians in the Bay
The #Springboks kick off their season against the Barbarians in Gqeberha, a place close to the hearts of Rassie Erasmus, Mzwandile Stick, and Deon Davids. The three Bok coaches discuss why it's special to return to the Eastern Cape and what
Nché injury concern headlining Bok casualty list ahead of Scotland clash at Loftus
Rassie Erasmus is sweating over the fitness of Ox Nché, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and André Esterhuizen ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus, after all four picked up injuries during or before the 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
Rassie Erasmus & Mzwandile Stick | Springbok and SA 'A' team announcements | 16 June 2026
Rassie Erasmus and Mzwandile Stick announced the Springbok and SA 'A' teams on Tuesday, ahead of Saturday's season-opening double-header in Gqeberha, when the Boks will face the Barbarians at 15h00, preceded by the 'A' team's match against
Buthelezi and Sadie called up as Springbok camp gets underway in Johannesburg
Phepsi Buthelezi and Carlu Sadie have joined the Springbok training squad in Johannesburg, with on-field preparations underway ahead of the 20 June double-header in Gqeberha. The Nations Championship squad is set to be announced on 21 June.