Rassie Erasmus reacts on Springboks' 2027 RWC draw

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus says he is satisfied with the Springboks’ pool draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, where the defending champions will bid for a historic third consecutive title.

The Boks have been placed in a pool with Italy, Georgia and Romania, all teams they have previously faced in World Cup tournaments.

South Africa are strong favourites to top Pool B, and a Round-of-16 match against a third-place finisher from Pool C, E or F is expected to pose few issues.

However, the knockout stages could be far more demanding, with a likely quarter-final against New Zealand, a potential semi-final against France, and a possible final against either England or Ireland.

Erasmus said that while the pool draw is positive, the World Cup always brings surprises, and South Africa must be mentally and physically prepared for every match.

“We are pleased with the pool we have been drawn in, but this is a World Cup, and every team will go out there with great passion and do their utmost to represent their nations with pride,” said Erasmus.

“There have been surprises in the tournament before, so we’ll need to be up mentally and physically for every match.”

He noted that Italy, ranked inside the world’s top 10, have shown their capability despite mixed results, while Georgia and Romania bring physicality and passion that can cause problems if underestimated.

“Italy may be ranked 10th in the world, but they showed us what they are capable of when they hit their straps earlier this season, even though the scorelines may not have reflected that.

“Georgia and Romania are also extremely physical and passionate teams, and we’ve faced them before, so we know how tough they can be on the day if we give them space and opportunities to play to their potential.”