Schalk Brits reveals what Rassie Erasmus hates as Springboks ‘keep pushing boundaries’ in bid for third successive World Cup title
Ex-Springboks hooker Schalk Brits (inset) and head coach Rassie Erasmus.
Schalk Brits has given insight into Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus’ thinking as they aim to become the first team to win three successive Rugby World Cup titles.
The Springboks are firmly entrenched as the number one ranked side in World Rugby’s official rankings after delivering several impressive performances during the recent international season.
The Boks are currently on their end-of-year tour in Europe and will play the final match of the Autumn Nations Series against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
Springboks in superb form
Erasmus‘ troops have been in superb form on their tour as they have already clinched victories over Japan (in London), France (in Paris), Italy (in Turin) and Ireland in Dublin.
That means South Africa have won 12 out of 14 matches played so far this year with their only blips being defeats they suffered during the Rugby Championship against Australia in Johannesburg and New Zealand in Auckland.
Under Erasmus’ guidance, South Africa have become the dominant force in international rugby in recent years.
Since he took charge of the Boks in 2018, they have won back-to-back Rugby World Cups in Japan (2019) and France (2023), while also clinching a 2-1 series victory over the British & Irish Lions in South Africa in 2021. They were also crowned Rugby Championship winners in 2024 and 2025.
During an interview with CoinPoker, former Boks hooker Brits was asked whether South Africa can realistically be stopped from winning their fifth, and third consecutive Rugby World Cup title, to which he replied: “We are mid-cycle, but, the reality is that in 2018, nobody thought we were going to win the World Cup either.
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“Rassie and that coaching group – and the players themselves – will keep pushing the boundaries. The one thing Rassie hates is complacency and entitlement. He will keep fighting against those things that creep in when you are successful.
“He will remind the players quite frankly that it’s not just about winning a rugby match or a World Cup; it’s about giving hope to our country. When your ‘why’ is rightly defined, it makes everything a lot better because you understand the sacrifice required for the country.
‘Nobody has done three in a row’
“The last one was all about creating our first team to win back-to-back titles. Now, aiming for a third time… that is something that would always be remembered. Nobody has done three in a row.
“With all due respect, if you look at the game in South Africa: 1995 was predominantly white. Then you had 2007, with John Smit as captain – a great win in France.
“Then take Siya Kolisi, the first black captain in 2019: the diversity of the viewer base has grown exponentially.
“Now, every South African is supporting the Springboks. It’s a team they can be proud of.
“That support has played a vital role in the success of the Springboks because the players know exactly how important this is for our country.”