Stuart Barnes: The Springboks ‘a revolution masked as evolution’ thanks to ‘plotter supreme’ Rassie Erasmus’

Former England playmaker Stuart Barnes has hailed Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks for their ability to keep winning while also focusing on the main prize.

South Africa have never shied away from stating that their primary focus has always been on the Rugby World Cup and it has paid off with back-to-back titles.

Results in between World Cups may suffer, as they did from 2020 t0 2023, but Erasmus was focused on creating depth leading into the global tournament in France.

The Boks boss is doing the same looking ahead to the 2027 World Cup, but this time the results have also been forthcoming.

2024 successes

In 2024, they claimed the Rugby Championship title for the first time since 2019 and went through their northern hemisphere tour unbeaten, something they have not done since 2013.

“Winning is vitally important to South Africa but it is not all important, not quite. Erasmus is the plotter supreme. One eye on the next game, the other on 2027 and yet, cross-eyed or not, still they keep winning. That is what is most impressive in the broadest sense,” Barnes wrote in his Sunday Times column.

“They did the same in 2021, beating the British & Irish Lions is a scruffy series, but they prevailed. There were plenty who questioned the quality of their performances against Scotland and England without considering the wider plan, of which Cardiff was merely the next jigsaw piece.

“This management is not only picking more players than ever, but in Tony Brown they have a backs coach who has the vision to ignite this and future generations of Springbok sides. Cheslin Kolbe symbolises this Springbok vintage every bit as much as Etzebeth.

“The world’s number one team are in a continual state of flux. No other team have come near to achieving the South African balance of short and long-term success. It’s a revolution masked as evolution. Frightening for opposition, exhilarating for the rest of us.”

Barnes compared it to what he feels has been a safety first approach from England who, with a couple of exceptions, selected a similar squad against Japan to what they picked for the All Blacks and Springboks clashes.

“When England name their 36-man squads, you can be sure a substantial number of the inexperienced players disappear from the match-day 23s. South Africa would have blooded countless new players against Japan. England opt for familiarity,” he added.

Barnes believes that the Boks’ approach helps the players’ development as the exposure to Test rugby enables them to understand what is required at the highest level.

‘No fear of failure’

“Potential Test players transition to seasoned stars far quicker than all of their rivals because of the opportunity Erasmus presents them,” he wrote.

“South Africa trust their players, they don’t pressurise them. There’s no talk about the weight of a rugby jersey. They combine defensive will power with freedom of expression.

“Officially, they are not rated that far clear of Ireland as the world’s top team, but there is no side who can live with the strength of their squad.

“South Africa have used the first year after World Cup glory to blood the next generation. Some of them who played in Cardiff will fall by the wayside but there is no fear of failure here.”

The Springboks ended their campaign with a dominant victory over Wales, earning a 45-12 triumph at the Principality Stadium for their 11th win of 2024.

Much of the hard work was done early on as they went at a point a minute in the first quarter to open up a 19-0 advantage, showing how destructive they can be.

“11 wins from 13 matches in 2024 isn’t a bad foundation on which to build a base to target a third consecutive World Cup title,” Barnes added.

“They haven’t always looked as formidable as that initial breathless period [against Wales] but, even when South Africa have lost, the margins were a solitary point on both occasions. There is no harder team to beat.”

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