Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus said the decision to have shoulder surgery was driven by his desire to remain hands-on with the world champions.

Erasmus went under the knife in Johannesburg last week to address an old rugby injury. Speaking to Sunday newspaper Rapport, the two-time World Cup-winning coach shared the reasoning behind the procedure.

“I really like to train and run with the players,” Erasmus told Rapport. “It became frustrating to no longer do that or get involved in certain exercises.”

The operation was necessary as the injury had worsened over time, the 52-year-old explained, with many muscles in the shoulder no longer functional.

The former Bok loose forward, who dislocated his shoulder several times during his playing days, admitted he might need further surgeries in the future.

The pain post-surgery was significant but the 36-Test Erasmus added that he is on the road to recovery and hoped to be discharged from the hospital over the weekend.

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Masuku to make Bok debut in 2025?

Rassie Erasmus is reportedly set to experiment with uncapped talent such as flyhalf Siya Masuku during the Springboks’ 2025 home Tests against Italy and Georgia.

Erasmus will view the mid-year internationals as an opportunity to assess emerging players, according to Rapport. The 28-year-old Masuku, who impressed in last season’s Challenge Cup and attended Bok alignment camps this year, is one of several names under consideration.

Sharks outside back Ethan Hooker, Lions playmaker Sanele Nohamba, and centre Henco van Wyk, along with DHL Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden, are also tipped for selection.

At lock, Erasmus is reportedly monitoring the Vodacom Bulls’ Cobus Wiese, JF van Heerden, and Reinhardt Ludwig to address depth concerns following recurring injuries to Salmaan Moerat.