Former All Blacks boss Steve Hansen sends ominous Springbok warning to Rassie Erasmus
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Ageing.
Steve Hansen believes Rassie Erasmus is approaching a point where some of the biggest names of South Africa’s golden generation will have to decide for themselves whether they have another World Cup campaign in them.
The Springboks emerged from their Greatest Rivalry battle with the All Blacks with a 3-1 series victory, providing little evidence on the field that their experienced core is beginning to fade.
But with the 2027 Rugby World Cup now just over a year away, Hansen believes Erasmus faces a different question with the senior players who have been at the heart of South Africa’s extraordinary period of success.
For the former All Blacks boss, it isn’t necessarily about whether those players are still good enough.
It’s whether they still want everything that comes with trying to remain at the top of international rugby.
“We had a group of players heading into 2015 who were getting on the older side, and we had a discussion one by one with them about what they controlled,” Hansen said during a collaboration between the Rugby Unity and For The Love Of Rugby SA podcasts.
“They were the only person who could tell you if they still had the desire, the genuine desire to do the work from Sunday to Friday – Saturday is always the fun time; that’s when everyone can all still be playing if we could do that.”
It’s a situation Hansen believes Erasmus could soon encounter with his own group.
Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jesse Kriel and Cheslin Kolbe are among those who have already won successive World Cups with South Africa and remain prominent members of the squad.
Hansen described players of that stature as “generational”, arguing that what they contribute to the Springboks extends far beyond what happens during 80 minutes on a Saturday.
“The guys you’re talking about are generational players for South Africa, and they’re guys that you don’t want to let go because they bring so much with them,” he said.
That doesn’t guarantee they’ll all be in Australia next year.
Hansen believes an honest conversation with Erasmus could result in some deciding that another World Cup cycle demands more than they’re prepared to give.
“However, if he [Erasmus] has the conversation, then there might be one or two that say, ‘Look, I don’t I just can’t do it anymore,’ and that’s fine; they’re putting the team first.
“They’re brave enough to tell you.”
If that moment does arrive, Hansen believes the standing of those players within South African rugby needs to be recognised.
“So you exit them out of the team in a way that they deserve to be exited out because they’re champion players.”
But Hansen’s message wasn’t simply a warning about an ageing Springbok squad.
After watching Erasmus’ veterans help South Africa overcome New Zealand in Greatest Rivalry, he believes the deciding factor will ultimately come from the players themselves.
If the appetite remains, Hansen sees no reason why age should prevent them from continuing.
“But if they still have that desire, they’ll front up, and they’ll play well.”
