South Africa’s 42-38 defeat to Australia in Perth has given Rassie Erasmus plenty to assess as the Springboks continue building towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Erasmus made 13 changes to his starting XV for the clash, providing several squad players with an opportunity to strengthen their claims for regular Test selection.
Instead, the Springboks endured a difficult afternoon. Australia built a 42-17 advantage before South Africa produced a spirited late comeback, but the Wallabies ultimately held on.
The result does not determine anyone’s World Cup fate, but it has highlighted the intense competition for places in several positions.
Here are four players whose situations could attract particular attention when Erasmus reviews his squad.
Aphelele Fassi
Fassi’s latest opportunity at fullback did not go entirely to plan.
The 28-year-old encountered problems under the high ball, with one mistake contributing to an Australian try. He also received a modest player rating following the match.
There were positives, however. Fassi played a role in the build-up to Edwill van der Merwe’s first-half try and remains an attacking threat from the back.
His challenge is the depth South Africa possesses in the back three.
Damian Willemse has established himself as a regular option at fullback in major Tests, while the Springboks have several other players capable of covering the outside backs.
With 18 Test caps, Fassi still has time to strengthen his case, but consistency will be important during his next opportunities.
Herschel Jantjies
Jantjies’ selection in Perth was significant given his limited Test involvement during the season.
The scrumhalf had accumulated only a small amount of international playing time before being handed another chance, but his return to the starting XV did not produce the impact he would have wanted.
Jantjies was replaced after 48 minutes, with Morne van den Berg subsequently making an impression from the bench during South Africa’s late rally.
The competition at scrumhalf is particularly strong.
Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach remain established options, while Van den Berg’s performance in Perth gives Erasmus another player to consider.
For Jantjies, regular involvement at Test level could become increasingly important if he is to remain in contention for the 2027 tournament.
Handre Pollard
Pollard’s situation is arguably the most intriguing of the four.
The veteran flyhalf remains one of the most experienced players in the Springbok setup and has played a crucial role in South Africa’s recent Rugby World Cup success.
His record includes key contributions to the 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs, making his experience a major asset.
However, the emergence of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has added another layer to the competition at flyhalf.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has increasingly demonstrated his ability to control matches and influence South Africa’s attacking structure. Manie Libbok is also part of the wider flyhalf picture, while younger options continue to emerge.
Pollard returned from injury to start against Australia and was reliable with his goal-kicking, but South Africa struggled to control the contest as the Wallabies established their substantial lead.
The Perth performance should therefore be viewed as part of a much larger selection discussion rather than a definitive judgment on Pollard’s future.
Marco van Staden
Van Staden is another experienced player facing stiff competition for a place in the Springbok back row.
The 30-year-old has won 38 Test caps and offers physicality and breakdown expertise, but South Africa have considerable depth among their loose forwards.
Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith, Cameron Hanekom, Ben-Jason Dixon and Jasper Wiese are among the players competing for opportunities, with further options available to Erasmus.
That competition means experience alone may not guarantee Van Staden a place in the final World Cup group.
His discipline will also be an area to monitor. Penalties can quickly become costly in Test rugby, and another difficult outing in Perth leaves him with plenty to work on before the Springboks reconvene.
The selection battle is far from over
The Perth defeat will give Erasmus and his coaching staff plenty of material to analyse, but it would be premature to treat one Test as definitive evidence of who will or will not make the 2027 Rugby World Cup squad.
South Africa have a deep pool of talent, and the remaining Test opportunities will be crucial for players competing for positions.
For Fassi, Jantjies, Pollard and Van Staden, the message is straightforward: future opportunities will need to be converted into strong performances.
With the World Cup less than a year away, every Test and training camp could have a significant role in shaping Erasmus’ final selection.
Which Springbok position do you think has the fiercest selection battle ahead of 2027?
