Wallabies great claims Springallabies legend Drew Mitchell has hailed Rassie Erasmus’ innovation with the Springboks in 2024 which has put the team in a world leading position.
Erasmus returned to the Springboks head coach position this year after four years supporting his good friend Jacques Nienaber in the director of rugby role and the team has only moved forward in 2024.
Evolution begins
The core of the Springboks team still remains from the 2019 triumph but with many of the players passed their 30s, one of Erasmus’ key focuses has been integrating new talent.
The veteran coach has expertly introduced new stars while maintaining competitiveness, resulting in 50 players used in an 11 wins from 13 Tests record this season, leaving the Boks at the top of the world rankings at the end of the year.
Mitchell believes that the use of so many players has put the Springboks in a commanding position in the global game.
“They’re the best positioned in world rugby,” Mitchell said on Kick Offs and Kick Ons.
“The depth that Rassie Erasmus has created is phenomenal. He used I think 51 players this year and not because he had to but because they were in a position of privilege where they were so strong that they could afford to make wholesale changes against teams that are still Tier One nations.
“By doing that [he] was blooding young guys to that arena so that in the instance that some of these guys don’t make it to the ’27 World Cup, they’ve got readymade replacements.”
The Tony Brown effect
Another feature of the Springboks in 2024 has been their evolved attacking style which has flourished under new assistant coach Tony Brown. The former All Black was given licence to launch a running style with South Africa and it has paid dividends.
“I think he’s always innovating, Rassie, he’s got genuine superstars,” added Mitchell. “He’s got players that can play different types of footy, they can play that 10-man rugby if they need to – if the opposition or conditions call on that – but they can also play expansive.
“Of yesteryear, the Springboks were probably criticised for not being able to play that type of footy but you look at Cheslin Kolbe, [Kurt-Lee] Arendse, [Aphelele] Fassi at full-back, [Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu] … they just have the capacity to really open teams up and play that transition type footy as well.”
There is still plenty of work for the Springboks to do if they are to achieve the unprecedented three-peat of World Cup titles but this season has been the ideal start to their evolution.
