Split-squad strategy to bring Boks more success in 2025

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SPOTLIGHT: The logistical challenges of the 2025 Test season will be mitigated by the Springboks' outstanding strength in depth.

Shortly after SA Rugby announced its plans for two alignment camps in March, the fixture list for the 2025 Test season was confirmed.

After hosting Italy and Georgia this July, the Boks will begin their Rugby Championship title defence with a double-header against the Wallabies at home.

The New Zealand leg of the tournament will present Rassie Erasmus' charges with a chance to become the first South African side to win at Eden Park since 1937, before the mini series moves to Wellington the following week.

The Boks will return to South Africa for their last home fixture of the season against Argentina, before travelling to Twickenham to tackle the Pumas in a potential Rugby Championship decider.

The season concludes with tour fixtures against France, Italy, Ireland and Wales – and the Boks should be especially desperate to win the marquee clashes in Paris and Dublin.

What does the confirmation of the fixtures have to do with the announcement that 55 players will meet for the first alignment camp on 7 March, or that a further 26 – including the overseas-based contingent – will meet virtually several weeks later?

Erasmus has made it clear that he is preparing a large squad to peak at the 2027 World Cup and claim an unprecedented hat-trick of global titles.

In the short- to middle-term, however, the Bok coach may use that extensive squad to navigate the challenges on the 2025 Test season, and emerge with the big scalps of New Zealand, France and Ireland – as well as an overall win-record in excess of 80%.

The Boks won't underestimate Italy in the two-Test series staged in July, but those matches – as well as the one-off against Georgia – will present the squad with various opportunities.

The senior players should receive a chance to play in front of a partisan home crowd, but Erasmus will use one or two of those matches to rotate the team and explore alternatives.

Erasmus often preaches about balance, and with that in mind, he will also aim to give his best combinations time to build momentum for the Rugby Championship.

Much will hinge on the results of the double-header in New Zealand, but it's possible that the class of 2025 could become the first Bok team in history to successfully defend its Rugby Championship title.

The Wallabies will fly to South Africa just days after a three-Test series against the British & Irish Lions – and may be depleted and fatigued by the time they tackle the Boks.

Again, the Boks would do well to focus on the result rather than the opposition, as two bonus-point wins would put them in a strong position (as was the case last year, after they picked up 10 log points in Australia).

Erasmus may rotate his players across the fixtures against Australia. If the Boks start the tournament well, he may opt to split his squad and send an advance party of senior players to New Zealand, to prepare for the first clash against the All Blacks on 6 September.

Erasmus split his squad in similar fashion during the 2019 and 2023 Rugby Championship tournaments in order to deal with the challenge of facing Australia in South Africa the one week and the All Blacks in New Zealand seven days later.

The policy certainly boosted performance, although results varied from a crucial draw in 2019 to a heavy loss in 2023.

This season, a fortnight will separate the second game against Australia in South Africa and the first match against the All Blacks in New Zealand.

As a result, the Boks should have sufficient time to acclimatise to the conditions and time zone, and have a real crack at burying the Eden Park bogey.

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