Easy pool, brutal playoffs: The Springboks’ 2027 Rugby World Cup balancing act
THE LAST WORD ON RUGBY
The Springbok will start the defence of their World Cup title with easy pool games, but things will get tricky in the knockout stages as they seek a third consecutive title in Australia in 2027.
Image: AFP | File
The Springboks look set to cruise through the pool stages of the 2027 Rugby World Cup as they begin their title defence in Australia.
On paper, clashes against Italy, Georgia and Romania offer a relatively gentle start for the reigning champions. But that comfortable runway could come with a pitfall.
Those early pool matches may leave South Africa under-prepared when the tournament reaches the business end, particularly with a blockbuster quarter-final looming against either the All Blacks or the hosts Australia.
Italy is expected to provide the sternest test in the pool, but the question is: will that be enough to properly harden the Boks for knockout rugby? Or could the lack of genuine pressure early on prove costly when there’s no room for error?
That dilemma is at the heart of the latest episode of The Last Word on Rugby, where the panel debates whether an easy pool is a blessing or a hidden danger. There’s also the counterpoint — that the possibility of an early playoff could sharpen the Springboks’ focus and fuel their drive to make history by winning a record third consecutive World Cup.
Plenty will hinge on head coach Rassie Erasmus, known for planning several steps ahead when it comes to his team. Erasmus and his coaching staff are unlikely to leave anything to chance, and there’s confidence that South Africa will arrive at the knockout stages fully prepared, regardless of the opposition faced early on.
Attention will also turn to the Six Nations Championship, which kicks off on Thursday as Ireland and France get the tournament underway. Erasmus and his assistants will be watching closely, particularly England’s progress ahead of the July Nations Championship opener against the Poms — a series that could set the tone for the world champions in 2026.
Back home, the URC pauses to give the Stormers and Lions time to lick their wounds after bruising SA derby defeats. The Sharks sealed a 2–0 coastal derby win in Durban, while the Bulls emphatically dispatched the Lions, sending a clear message that they are back on track under Johan Ackermann.