Erasmus becomes record-breaking Springbok coach

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will enter uncharted territory on Saturday when he sends out a Springbok team for a record-breaking 55th time as head coach – the most of any coach since South Africa’s first Test match in 1891.

Erasmus has reached the total in two spells (2018 and 2019 and 2024 to the present day) to surpass the previous record of 54 Tests established by 2007 Rugby World Cup winning coach Jake White from 2004 to 2007.

Mark Alexander, President of SARU, said: “Rassie understood his mandate from day one and implemented a strategy that truly transformed the way we play, the way we use our diversity as our strength and the way we drive social cohesion by using rugby as a vehicle. He galvanised all South Africans behind our team.”

Erasmus, a former Springbok loose forward, also held the title of director of rugby between his head coach roles and was always intimately involved in the team’s preparation with head coach Jacques Nienaber. Saturday marks the 94th Springbok match played under his guidance since his return to the South African Rugby Union (SARU) in 2018.

“There aren’t any superlatives left to describe the impact Rassie has had not only on Springbok rugby but on the sport and the country over the past eight years,” added Alexander.

“He has not only transformed the team’s results, he has transformed the country’s attitude to rugby. He has turned Springbok matches into an environment where South Africans from every demographic, whether it be sex, age, race, or language can come together to celebrate their South African-ness together.”

Erasmus’ contribution has been recognized at the highest level with the conferring of the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold, one of South Africa’s highest civic honours, for exceptional performance in sport. Few awards have ever been more richly deserved.

“Rassie Erasmus’s legacy is measured not only in victories but in the unity, hope and pride he has instilled in South Africans,” said Alexander. “His work stands as a testament to the power of rugby to transcend boundaries and bring our nation together.”

The Springboks have achieved a win rate of 75,93% in Erasmus’ 54 matches in charge – 13,5% better than the Springboks’ historical winning record (62,5%) when he assumed control.

In the past two seasons since resuming the head coach title (and including Saturday’s match against England) the winning average has risen ever higher to 85,7% with only four defeats in 28 matches.

Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, said: “There is no doubt that Rassie is the greatest coach to ever lead the Springboks and he will rank highly in conversations about the greatest coach to ever take charge of a national team from any country.

“His clarity of vision, his attention to detail and the ability to bring disparate people and systems into alignment is extraordinary. The Springboks were ranked sixth in the world and had suffered a series of record defeats when he took on job of head coach.

“With largely the same playing personnel he has masterminded the winning of two Rugby World Cups and established the team at the very pinnacle of the sport.”

Erasmus said: “When players reach milestones we don’t talk about it in the build-up to matches and the same applies this week. It’s a nice thing to know but the most important and only thing this week is performing against a very dangerous Scotland team.”

The top five Springbok coaches by number of Tests are

Rassie Erasmus: P54 W41 D1 L12 | PF 1 823 PA 945 TF 234 TA 101 | Win rate 75,93%

Jake White: P54 W36 D1 L17 | PF 1 740 PA 1 097 TF 193 TA 110 | Win rate 66,67%

Heyneke Meyer: P48 W32 D2 L14 | PF 1 313 PA 841 TF 143 TA 72 | Win rate 66,67%

Pieter de Villiers: P48 W30 D0 L18 | PF 1 262 PA 921 TF 126 TA 87 | Win rate 62,50%

Jaques Nienaber: P39 W27 D0 L12 | PF 1 108 PA 694 TF 123 TA 63 | Win Rate 69,23%

Meanwhile, Springbok prop Wilco Louw was thrilled about the opportunity to run out at Loftus Versfeld once again – this time in the green and gold jersey – after making the move from Pretoria to Cape Town to join the DHL Stormers at the end of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship season, and similarly to his teammates, he was ready for a challenging Test against Scotland.

The teams will line up in the second round of the Nations Championship at the field many refer to as ‘Fortress Loftus’ at 5.40pm on Saturday, and after Scotland’s strong Six Nations campaign and a victory against Argentina last week, Louw was under no illusions about the test that awaited them.

“Loftus is a special place, not only for the Vodacom Bulls guys but for the Boks as well,” said Louw.

“It’s always amazing to play there and I'm looking forward to seeing the Bulls fans and even the groundsmen at the stadium.”

Louw may be one of the more experienced players in the Bok forward pack but he said there would be pressure on the entire team, as in every Test match in the Bok jersey.

“There's always pressure regardless of how many Test caps one has,” said Louw.

“I think it would be the same even if you ask a player like Eben (Etzebeth), who has over 140 caps. It’s about how you handle the pressure, so that it doesn’t get the better of you and to focus on the task at hand.”

With the South African teams having met the Scottish players on several occasions in the URC over the last few years, both in SA and abroad, Louw said it would spice up the clash.

“The Vodacom URC is incredible competition, and obviously, one knows their guys but our focus is on ourselves and what we want to achieve on Saturday, whether it's in the scrums or any facet of the game,” he said.

“We’ve played against many of their players at Loftus Versfeld and this is another opportunity to face some of them there.”

The Bok prop, who will pack down in the starting front row with Boan Venter and hooker Johan Grobbelaar, expected an epic battle up front: “Pieter (de Villiers – Scotland scrum coach) is a good coach and they have proper boys in the front row and at the back.

“They have a physical pack and one could see that from the tries they scored against Argentina. A lot of them were a result of the forwards and their direct play, so it's definitely going to be a tough one, but we are prepared for that, and we’ve tried to cover the bases we need to.”

He also looked forward to the challenge of possibly facing South African-born prop Pierre Schoeman: “He's a good friend and an incredible rugby player, so hopefully there can be a bit of chat afterwards. Obviously, it's a big game but it’s always great playing against him.”

The Springboks wrapped up their main training block on Wednesday and will have Thursday off to rest, before wrapping up their on-field preparations for the clash with their captains’ run on Friday.

On Thursday, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s Nations Championship Test in Pretoria, as his side prepare for a first clash with the Springboks on South African soil since 2014.

The changes see Finn Russell named to start at flyhalf after his recovery from a calf injury, whilst Zander Fagerson and Gregor Brown are promoted to the starting XV after coming off the bench in last weekend’s victory over Argentina.

Fagerson lines up at tighthead after a tour-ending injury to Elliot Millar Mills in Cordoba last Saturday, joining Schoeman – a try-scorer on his 50th cap for Scotland last weekend – and Ewan Ashman in the front row.

Scott Cummings continues in the second row after also touching down for a try on his 50th cap, with Brown coming into the line-up after crossing for his first score in Scotland colours last weekend.

The back row is unchanged, meaning Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge – the latter having led the team with 24 tackles against Los Pumas – start either side of Jack Dempsey to form the loose forward trio.

Ben White partners Russell in the half-backs, the scrumhalf having been pivotal in controlling proceedings in Cordoba last Saturday.

Rory Hutchinson retains his place at outside centre after an impressive, try-scoring performance in the No 13 jersey last weekend, once again forming a midfield partnership with captain Sione Tuipulotu ahead of the clash at Loftus Versfeld.

An all-Glasgow Warriors back-three sees Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie selected on the wings, as Kyle Rowe rounds out the starting XV by lining up at fullback.

A six-two split of forwards and backs on the replacements bench sees Rory Sutherland in line to win his 50th cap for Scotland should he come onto the field this weekend, the loose-head prop set to reach the milestone in the country in which he toured as a British & Irish Lion in 2021.

Gregor Hiddleston is retained amongst the replacements after a memorable debut in last weekend’s victory over Argentina, with Alex Samuel also retained from last weekend’s cohort of replacements.

Tom Jordan rotates to the bench after starting last time out, whilst Will Hurd, Josh Bayliss, Magnus Bradbury and Stafford McDowall are all set for their first appearances of the 2026 Nations Championship after being named in the match-23.

Springbok starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Canan Moodie; 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), 6 Paul de Villiers; 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Zach Porthen, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Elrigh Louw, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Quan Horn.

Scotland starting XV: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (capt), 11 Jamie Dobie; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White; 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson; 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Gregor Brown; 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman. Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Magnus Bradbury, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Stafford McDowall.

South Africa v Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - 5.40pm

Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)

Assistant Referees: James Doleman (NZR), Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Television Match Official: Richard Kelly (NZR)

Split Screen/FPRO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)