Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks will face a tough task in the Nations Championship against battle-hardened Six Nations sides.
The Boks kick off their campaign against England at Ellis Park (4 July), before taking on Scotland at Loftus Versfeld (11 July) and Wales at Kings Park (18 July).
“This is an exciting new competition, and after witnessing the competitiveness of the Six Nations in general and some very tight contests, we have no doubt it’s going to be a thrilling new challenge for the Boks,” said Erasmus in a statement on Thursday, which marked 100 days to go before kick-off.
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“England showed real grit in the Six Nations, although some of the results didn’t go their way, and they really showed what they are capable of against the eventual champions, pushing France all the way in Paris [before losing 48-46].
“Scotland also proved that they could be a real force by finishing third on the standings with three victories, and to be the only team to beat France, while also defeating England and Wales, they too will back themselves to put up a good showing in South Africa.
“Wales showed great development in their style of play, and the fact that they finished well with a great victory against a very tough Italian team will boost their confidence when they travel to South Africa.
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“All three teams will also draw inspiration from the fact that they come off a highly competitive Six Nations competition, while we will only be beginning our season by the time we face them, so we will have to hit the ground running to be as competitive as possible against them.”
The Springboks will host their second in-person and virtual alignment camps in May, which will be followed by their first official training camp of the year in June.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images)
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