Rassie Erasmus: ‘It will be sad the day when Mapimpi is done because he always produces’

Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus has praised speedster Makazole Mapimpi after his double try-scoring efforts against Scotland at Murrayfield.

At 34 years old, Mapimpi is very much in the twilight of his international career, particularly as an outside back, but the double World Cup winner continues to impress when given an opportunity.

In fact, in his five appearances in Green and Gold this year he has crossed the whitewash on six occasions, continuing to produce a fantastic strike rate.

Unlikely to make the next World Cup

Still, even Mapimpi admits that does not expect to remain in the Springboks squad for their World Cup title defence in Australia in 2027.

“I think I’m good now, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make another World Cup. I’m not saying I won’t, but I don’t think so,” Mapimpi told reporters before the clash with Scotland in Edinburgh.

“There are a lot of players that have come in now, and it’s a good thing for the team. There is going to be generation after generation, and for me, it’s about assisting the players, especially if I’m not playing.”

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Erasmus admits that it will be a “sad day” when Mapimpi is no longer selected for the Springboks with the head coach explaining the emotion tie the coaching team has with some of the players.

Mapimpi earned his Test debut in Erasmus’ first game in charge of the Springboks against Wales in 2018 and the winger has been a crucial cog in the team since, becoming the first Bok player to score a try in a Rugby World Cup final.

While his 2023 tournament was cut short through injury, Mapimpi has continued to impress when given the chance in the Boks jersey, despite being overtaken in the pecking order by Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse for the big games.

A special guy

Erasmus says that there are quality players that are knocking on the door but the staff’s emotional tie to Mapimpi and the fact that he is still producing standout performances like the one against Scotland makes it difficult to drop him.

“He is a special guy,” Erasmus said with a smile in the post-match conference.

“Sometimes it is so tough a guy like Edwill van der Merwe hasn’t really played a lot because of injury and he was in camp with us, Quan Horn at full-back – we are close to getting Willie Le Roux to 100 caps, we know what form Fassi is in but as a team, we are a bit like a family as well.”

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“Mapimpi is one of us and there is certainly guys who are knocking really hard on the door and we know Cheslin and Kurt-Lee are class. We know there are a few other wingers that we could have brought on tour but with it being a three-week tour, it is a bit different than an incoming series where we can have the players for five weeks in camp and they can learn our culture.

“So as long as we can look after Mapimps and he scores tries and get Willie to his 100th Test match.”

He added: “There is sometimes an emotional connection with the players and the management and coaching staff and when have the opportunity, we do try and make it special for them. But yeah it will be sad the day when Mapimpi is done because he always produces.”

Mapimpi’s brace against Scotland saw him take his Test try tally in Green and Gold to 32 in 46 games which means he has moved into joint-third on the Springboks’ all-time leading try scorers’ list.

He matched the tally of legendary centre Jaque Fourie – who scored his 32 tries in 72 games for the Boks and won the 2007 World Cup with the team.

READ MORE: Springboks: Makazole Mapimpi equals Jaque Fourie’s tally on South Africa’s all-time try scorers list