Erasmus under 'no illusions' as tough Springboks season kicks off (opens in new tab)

"We are under no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead," said a key figure in transforming the Springboks from the "laughing stock" of rugby to world champions. The former South Africa loose forward inherited in 2018 a team ranked seventh in the world, that had lost to then European lightweights Italy, and were playing in half-empty stadiums. Under Erasmus the Springboks won the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup tournaments, won the last two editions of the southern hemisphere Rugby Champ...