Rassie Erasmus: Bring on 'Pom Squad' v Bomb Squad in Nations Cup clash against England

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was on a charm offensive this past weekend when he spoke to a leading British publication about the July Nations Cup match between South Africa and England at Ellis Park in early July.

Last week, Erasmus told the media that the England match has been circled as one of their big must-wins in a year which includes the Greatest Rivalry Series against the All Blacks, and November Nations Cup matches against France, Ireland, and Italy. Following the season-opener against England on July 4, the Boks host Scotland and Wales.

The Springbok players have made it clear that they look forward to playing an England team that has resonated arrogance since finishing 2025 on an 11-match unbeaten streak.

Late last year, Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was asked what he most looked forward to in 2026; he smiled and replied: “The England game.”

But his coach, Erasmus, was all caution when he talked to the UK press, notably about the “Pom Squad” — an incarnation of the Boks’ Bomb Squad.

“I think it’s lekker when people stop analysing what’s wrong and what’s right, if things are within the laws,” Erasmus said, of the controversy over the Bomb Squad.

“You adapt to it and kind of embrace it. It’s a nice feeling.

"Not because you feel everyone criticised us and now we’re being proven right — it’s not that. I’m glad that people are trying not to find a problem with that.”

Erasmus did not back down from the talk that the Boks want to put England in their place.

“They are the real thing now,” Erasmus said.

“Tom Curry is a tough bastard, and Maro Itoje will always disrupt your play, and Tommy Freeman, Fin Smith, and Marcus Smith are big threats at the back.

"I just think they’ve got a nice balance. There is grunt and power and flair. They’re impressive.”

Erasmus said the Boks will expect the unexpected when England arrive in July.

“They might find something different,” he said.

“They might go with four forwards and four backs, and then I might look at that and think, ‘That might work.’ We’re all stealing from each other and learning from each other. None of us has all the answers.”