Schalk Burger has dismissed suggestions that the Springboks could field a second-string side for their Nations Championship Tests in November.
The debate was sparked by former Bok lock Victor Matfield, who said he had heard that Rassie Erasmus might take a “B-team” to Europe for the second leg of the new tournament to manage workloads ahead of the 2027 World Cup. The world champions play Italy, France and Ireland, before the finals weekend at Twickenham.
But Burger isn’t buying it.
“I don’t think we will do that,” he said on the Boks Unpacked podcast.
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With the Rugby Championship not being held this year, Burger believes the Boks will target silverware, not experimentation.
“If we are successful now in July, then the All Blacks are coming here; it’s the only real trophy that we can go win is this Nations Championship.
“We have that Test series against the All Blacks. This group of players would surely want to do that [win the Nations Championship].”
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The Boks’ schedule is stacked, with mid-year Tests followed by a blockbuster series against the All Blacks and a demanding end-of-year tour. But Burger says the squad is well-equipped to handle it, particularly with several players based in Japan.
“The main benefit we’ve got, and it’s by default, is that so many players are based in Japan,” he said. “They have got the perfect ticket for it.”
Photo: Huw Fairclough/Getty Images
The post Schalla shoots down ‘B-team’ talk appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Schalk Burger has dismissed suggestions that the Springboks could field a second-string side for their Nations Championship Tests in November.
The post Schalla shoots down ‘B-team’ talk appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
