Rassie Erasmus has hinted that he will use his first match as Springbok coach to test overseas-based players.

The Boks will face Wales in Washington DC on 2 June, a week before they start their three-match series against England at Ellis Park.

While the Wales match falls outside of World Rugby’s Test window, Erasmus said he needed to look at overseas-based players before next year’s World Cup.

‘We will have to test some players that we might use next year somewhere. So I guess those two Test matches will be one of those windows. I still have to go through [SA Rugby] leadership to make sure we follow the necessary protocol but that will be one of the requests, to see where we can test some players.

‘It will be foolish to think that one squad of 23 or 26 can go and play there [in Washington DC], fly back [to South Africa] and remain competitive against England. So it might be a bit of a combination, it might be two squads, it might be some of the reserves playing in both squads.’

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However, Erasmus was confident that his side could cope with the challenge, saying plans are already in place for the Wales match.

‘I know it looks a bit like suicide from the outside, but it means we have an extra Test match before the World Cup that we can use to prepare for the tournament.

‘Obviously, we will have to win the match [against Wales]. We will have to juggle a bit and be creative because in seven days’ time we are playing England at altitude at Ellis Park, but our plans are in place.’

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