mens
rugby world championship
Damian Willemse understands there will be a target on the Springboks’ back during the men’s competition Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia as the back-to-back world champions chase a feat never before seen in the tournament’s history.
The Springboks and All black people both were back-to-back men’s Rugby World Cup winners, but the three-peat had never been done before. 24 participating teams will compete on the 11thth edition of the tournament, with the Boks looking to make more history.
Coach Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks are in Perth to face next year’s World Cup hosts the Wallabies on Sunday night. It looms as another important goal for both sides, ahead of the one-year countdown to next week’s showpiece event.
South Africa they are coming off a clinical 3-1 series win over the All Blacks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, which included the fourth test in front of more than 68,000 fans in Baltimore. They remain the top team in the World Rugby rankings after the four-game clash.
“Everybody in the world obviously wants to win the World Cup, they want to be the best and obviously beat the Springboks,” Willemse said this week.
“For us, we’re really just focusing on ourselves, making sure we get our processes and everything (in place) so obviously we can win the game and get the result we want.”
Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker are the only Springboks to retain their place in the First XV following the last-gasp win over the All Blacks. Erasmus and the selectors made 13 changes to the side for the match for the Wallabies.
Andre Esterhuizen will become 68th the captain of the South African team, while the last player Jasper Wiese is in line for his 50thth Test layout. The sides have gone with an incredibly experienced bench, which includes Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche.
But coach Les Kiss has named a familiar Wallabies side, who haven’t lost since July Nations Championship Tests. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii moves to the wing, linking up with Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright in a new look back three.
“We’re just happy to be here in Perth. It’s almost like a home away from home,” Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick sad.
“The key thing for us is not to look too far. We know we have a big World Cup next year … but the key thing now is to play a test match against an Australian side who are in a good space.”
“As a team, they’re getting better with their new coaching staff. You can see there’s a new energy and they’re going to be playing at home, so it’s going to be tough for us.”
Stick and other Springboks representatives, along with former Wallabies winger Nick Cummins, held a coaching clinic for 40 kids in Perth on Friday morning. It was held at the UWA Rugby Club in Perth, which is one of four outdoor training cities for next year’s World Cup.
The Springboks coach enjoyed a similar experience as an 11-year-old in Port Elizabeth when the Wallabies hosted a World Cup pool match in 1995. “I’ll never forget rubbing shoulders with guys like George Gregan,” Stick said. The Wallabies were the reigning World Cup winners at the time.
“I’m one of the beneficiaries of the system that World Rugby creates behind us, including the kids. Look at me now, 30 years later, I’m still in love with the game,” argued Stick.
“Once again, credit has to go to World Rugby for what they’re doing and hopefully we can continue to promote the game and make sure it’s world class. I’m just happy to be able to hang out with the kids as well.”
