Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus played down South Africa’s fourth successive victory over New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday, paying respect to the All Blacks after the Boks won back the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009.
Canan Moodie and Jaden Hendrikse make their first appearances in the Springbok jersey since the 2023 Rugby World Cup on Saturday while double RWC winners Willie le Roux and Lukhanyo Am also return to the match-23 face New Zealand in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in Cape Town.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has included three Rugby World Cup winners in the national squad for the first time this year as he welcomes back Steven Kitshoff, Jaden Hendrikse and Canan Moodie from injury for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship Tests against New Zealand.
New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson has named Scott Barrett as the new captain of the All Blacks.
The Springboks will kick off their second in-person alignment camp in Cape Town on Wednesday – a month before their opening Test of the season against Wales in London on 22 June – with a group of 38 players assembling for the two-day camp.
It was not the result they wanted, but the Junior Springboks were happy with the effort and learnings from their U20 Rugby Championship opener played in very difficult conditions against a strong New Zealand Under-20 side in Australia.
Zachary Porthen will lead the Junior Springboks against New Zealand on Thursday, in the opening round of the inaugural Under-20 Rugby Championship at the Sunshine Coast Stadium in Bokarina, Queensland in Australia.
When the Junior Springboks open their Under-20 Rugby Championship campaign against New Zealand at the Sunshine Coast Stadium on Thursday, they will have the benefit of calling on the calmness of towering lock JF van Heerden.
The Springboks will line up against Rugby World Cup opponents, Scotland and England, before taking on Wales in the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour in November, with the last Tests confirmed on Monday.
The Junior Springboks will kick off the inaugural Rugby Championship (TRC) Under-20 tournament with an exciting match against New Zealand on Thursday, 2 May at the Sunshine Coast Stadium, SANZAAR confirmed on Wednesday when it announced the draw for new competition.