Vintage Rassie Erasmus as former England coach joins the Springboks

New addition.

South Africa have added further depth behind the scenes, with SA Rugby confirming the appointment of Joe Lewis as the Springboks’ new performance analyst.

In a vintage move from Erasmus, Lewis arrives having been England’s senior analyst from 2017 to 2021, with the Springboks set to take on England in the Nations Championship this summer.

Lewis arrives with a strong CV, having previously worked across multiple international setups, including England, Wales and in club rugby with both the Scarlets and Ospreys.

The Welshman has also been involved at age-grade level with Wales and spent time in New Zealand with Taranaki, building a reputation as one of the more experienced analytical minds in the game.

He is set to link up with the Springboks ahead of their opening fixture of the international season — a clash with the Barbarians in Gqeberha on June 20 — before a packed schedule that also includes the Nations Championship and a blockbuster series against New Zealand.

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus welcomed the addition, highlighting both Lewis’ experience and the value he brings to an already well-established setup.

“We are delighted to welcome Joe to the Springbok team,” he said.

“Given his vast experience in technical and performance analysis at international and club level, we believe he will add great value to the squad as we prepare for a busy and exciting season, and further ahead to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

“His roles have seen him gain invaluable experience at the highest level of the game – at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, in the Six Nations competition, and Autumn Nations Cup, among other big tournaments, and we have no doubt he’ll slot into our set-up seamlessly.”

It’s another smart addition from the world champions as they continue to evolve off the field — ensuring they remain just as sharp behind the scenes as they are on it.