CAPE TOWN - SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus says the success of the June Tests will depend on how the players “follow through on what was agreed upon at the camps” once they return to their respective franchises.
The second of three Springbok alignment camps concluded in Vanderbijlpark on Wednesday, with a final one planned for Durban from 22-25 April. According to SA Rugby, the aim of these camps is to accelerate preparations for the upcoming international season.
A group of 22 Stormers and Lions players attended the second camp over the past four days at the Riverside Resort. Several coaching staff members of the Lions and Stormers were also at the camp.
These coaches were Lions head coach Swys de Bruin and conditioning coach Ivan van Rooyen, as well as Stormers assistant coaches Russell Winter and Paul Treu and conditioning coach Steph du Toit.
Speaking after the conclusion of the second camp, Erasmus said that all parties involved will have a “clear picture” of their plans for the Tests against Wales and England.
“We were able to work with a combined total of 34 players from three different franchises during the first two camps,” said Erasmus. “I am sure that after the final camp, we would have covered a lot of groundwork with most of the players we have in mind for the June internationals.
“I want to reiterate that the success of the June Tests will be determined by how the Springbok coaching staff and the players follow through on what was agreed upon at the camps when the players are back at their franchise teams.
“The sessions are very intense and we are confident that everyone - players, coaching staff and the various franchise team representatives who sat in during all the sessions - will all be aligned and have a clear picture of our plans for Wales and England after these camps."
Twelve Bulls players attended the first camp at the same venue. The sessions during these camps don’t entail any on-field activities.
The Boks will kick off their international campaign against Wales in Washington DC on 2 June, before returning to South Africa to host England in three Tests.
The series-opener against England will take place at Ellis Park on 9 June, with the second Test hosted in Bloemfontein on 16 June. The series will conclude at Newlands on 23 June.