Boks' focus is only on Japan

While most of the country is still celebrating the first Castle Lager Rugby Championship trophy in a decade, the Springboks have already turned their eyes back towards the World Cup and making sure the squad retains the momentum they have built up thus far.

Speaking on his team’s arrival back in South Africa, team coach Rassie Erasmus made no secret of the fact that the trophy was nice to win, but that would mean nothing if they don’t back it up next month in Japan with a similarly inspiring performance.

“On the field winning the trophy is something we haven’t done for a while, and was great. But saying that, we all know that in six months' time nobody will remember who won the trophy this year,” Erasmus warned those who will listen as the two trophies the team brought back from Argentina stood just feet away.

The Bok coach was adamant that the momentum was the key asset to winning the trophy, and the self-belief was key to being a consistent side, something that has evaded them in the past few years.

“To win the trophy was part of the whole plan. If we didn’t win it, we would probably have still been happy in terms of how the team grew in certain areas in becoming a team. There were a few things on the field and off the field where I thought in terms of leadership and ownership we did well, even if we didn’t manage to win the trophy,” he said.

"It does give you a bit of momentum this year. It does give you a bit more self-belief and I guess if we didn’t win that match, everybody would said our consistency isn’t there, and that is something we strive towards. What wasn’t there last year was consistency. So there were a few boxes ticked but certainly a long way to go still.”

While an unbeaten run in the Rugby Championship is one thing, the Boks will be looking to experiment with some players this weekend in order to ensure their squad is as strong as it can be ahead of the World Cup team announcement.

“There are definitely a lot of work-ons. We’ve ticked a few boxes but there are definitely some guys who need some game time, or to pass fitness tests. Some guys need to get their form up to speed. If you think about it, this weekend’s game is very important in that regard. We only have the Japanese game in Japan before we play the All Blacks, so those 160 minutes (are all that is left).

“But basically those 80 minutes this weekend are important because we are taking the World Cup squad over to Japan and you can’t really chop and change after that because the World Cup squad is there.

“In that regard this weekend is really big to see who is really fit and ready to make the World Cup squad. We have a few boxes ticked but still a few unticked.”

Loftus will provide some of the answers for Erasmus while fate may give the rest. Either way, the Boks are done celebrating their trophy win, and are now looking towards Japan with intent.