Cardinelli's argument is simple but well-supported: the SA 'A' tour matches of late 2022 — which raised eyebrows at the time — were a template Erasmus has followed ever since, and the current 100-plus-player environment is the same process running at scale. Players like Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Nortjé and Du Toit graduated from that 2022 experiment into regular Test starters; Cardinelli contends we should expect a similar trajectory for the current crop of Junior Boks and fringe players now being 'captured' through SA 'A' exposure. The piece maps the depth across age groups — 12 new caps in 2024, 8 in 2025, an injury list of 17 and a squad pool exceeding 100 — to argue that Erasmus isn't just building for 2027, but is running a deliberate conveyor belt toward 2031, with names like Paul de Villiers, Riley Norton and Markus Muller positioned as the next wave of seniors by the time that World Cup in the USA arrives.
Rassie's 2031 masterplan is already in motion
Cardinelli traces the through-line from Erasmus's 2022 SA 'A' experiment to the current blooding cycle, arguing the squad-building process is now a structured long-term programme targeting 2027 and 2031 — with a compelling look at who the next generation of Bok stalwarts might be.
Esterhuizen and Giliomee eager as Boks and SA 'A' prepare for Gqeberha double-header
The Springboks face the Barbarians and SA 'A' take on Zimbabwe in a double-header at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, with Andre Esterhuizen backing Quan Horn's shift to flyhalf and teenager Luan Giliomee set for his third green-and-gold environment of the year.
Horn at 10, a Stormers-heavy Bomb Squad, and five uncapped faces — five things to know about the Boks' Barbarians selection
Erasmus has named Quan Horn at fly-half — his first professional start at 10 — with Kolbe taking kicking duties, a Stormers-heavy Bomb Squad replacing the usual faces, and five uncapped players handed their moment ahead of the Nations Championship.
So how deep is the Springbok squad?
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Springboks Through Irish Eyes: Gráinne Seoige on Loftus, Rassie, and Why SA Rugby Is Unlike Anything Else
Irish TV personality Gráinne Seoige tells the Lekker Rugby Pod that walking into Loftus for the 2024 Ireland test was the most intimidating rugby atmosphere she has ever experienced, and argues that Rassie Erasmus's cultural transformation of Springbok rugby is a bigger achievement than the World Cup wins.
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.