Rassie Erasmus unfazed by lengthy Springboks injury list: ‘We are not in trouble’
Stormers fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and an inset of Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus
Rassie Erasmus says that the Springboks’ injury crisis has been blown out of proportion, with only Kwagga Smith and RG Snyman ruled out for the entire 2026 season.
The head coach states that they ‘are not in trouble’ and the coaches are, in fact, struggling to figure out how they are going to give certain players minutes throughout the year.
Erasmus was speaking from the Springboks training camp in Johannesburg, where a squad of 52 players were preparing for the Gqeberha double-header next weekend when South Africa A will face Zimbabwe as a curtain raiser for the Boks’ clash with the Barbarians. The group also excludes players from the Bulls who will face Leinster in the United Rugby Championship final next Friday.
While there are several players who will miss next weekend’s action and the upcoming Nations Championship fixtures against England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, the Boks boss is not concerned, explaining that there is plenty of depth and that Smith and Snyman are the only players who would have been involved regularly in matchday 23s if they were fit.
Kwagga Smith and RG Snyman to miss the entire 2026 season
Furthermore, he confirmed that star fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is set to return in time for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks, while 2026 World Rugby Player of the Year, Malcolm Marx, is fine.
“RG Snyman and Kwagga Smith are the only long-term injured players who will be back next year. Sebastian de Klerk is another, but he was never a regular in the 23; he has actually never played a match,” Erasmus said.
“It’s only RG and Kwagga who would have probably made the matchday 23 most of the time this year. Yes, we do have other long-term injuries, but those were youngsters and guys who still must find their feet.”
Erasmus was pressed to provide further clarity on the unavailable list and obliged, but insisted again that the coaching staff isn’t panicking.
“We can mention a hell of a lot of players, but a lot of these players wouldn’t make the matchday 23. They do help us with squad depth so we can rotate, but we are not in trouble,” he explained.
“In our camp, we have a hell of a lot of players that we don’t know how we are going to give them game time currently. Don’t say that our injury list is bad because that’s not the case.
“Kai Pratt [Sharks and Junior Springbok prop], we would have loved to have him, but he is a long-term injury. Marnus van der Merwe is a long-term injury. Frans Malherbe and Trevor Nyakane haven’t come back yet, but we hope they can.
“Deon Fourie is obviously a guy that we always banked on if we could need him, and unfortunately he also is out, but I mean Deon wouldn’t have made the matchday 23 in most of the games. It would have been when we rotated, or if we were really in trouble, then Kwagga is out until next year, so is Jean-Luc du Preez. Juarno Augustus is not ready yet.”
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu update as Ruan Venter misses out on Springboks chance
One player that the Springboks had hoped to utilise was Lions forward, Ruan Venter. The 23-year-old has primarily played as blindside flanker for the Jo’burgers but the Lions agreed to trial him in the second-row to improve his chances of adding to his single Test cap. However, he sustained an injury in the final round of the URC, which ruled him out for the rest of the year.
“Ruan is somebody that we really thought could do it this year for us at front lock; he is also a long-term injury,” Erasmus continued before confirming that Venter’s teammate Morne van den Berg will be available soon.
“Krappies is out, but when we play New Zealand or even maybe the second or third Test against Scotland or Wales, he may be available. Jordan and Jaden [Hendrikse] are long-term, but they will be back in the mix at some stage this year.
“Then Sacha will be ready about four weeks before the New Zealand matches, and the same for Ethan Hooker. Henco van Wyk is long-term but close to the All Blacks matches – Bronson Mills also.
“Grant Williams will be ready, but some guys we will rest against the Barbarians because they have played so much rugby. Guys like Damian de Allende and Damian Willemse have played a lot of rugby, and we are still making our decisions there, but Grant is ready. Eben Etzebeth will be ready for England.”
Players won’t be risked against England
Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden replaced clubmate Salmaan Moerat in the Springboks training squad, with Erasmus stating that the latter is also another ‘long-term injury’ after sustaining a neck injury.
While the Bok coach says the team’s goal will be to win every Test match this year, they staff won’t rush players back for the three July internationals, particularly with the matches against the All Blacks on the horizon.
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“Cobus Reinach can be ready for England, but it will be a push on that, and we will rather be careful,” Erasmus explained.
“We desperately want to beat England, but it will be foolish for us to rush things – he’ll probably only join the squad after the incoming series. Malcolm Marx is reg [fine].”
The news on Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Marx will be particularly pleasing for the Boks; there were fears that the former could miss the fixtures against the All Blacks, while there was a cloud of doubt over the latter, who missed the Kubota Spears’ Japan Rugby League One final against Kobe.
While the fly-half will almost certainly miss the July Tests, the hooker is good to go.
READ MORE: SA Rugby confirms Springboks coach as South Africa A boss for Zimbabwe showdown
