Rassie Slams Media Over All Blacks Questions 2026

Rassie Erasmus has had enough. Speaking from Buenos Aires on Tuesday alongside Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the Springbok director of rugby drew a hard line — stop asking about the All Blacks series, and start showing Argentina the respect they deserve.

Erasmus Dismisses All Blacks Speculation

The press conference was called to confirm the Bok team to face Felipe Contepomi's Los Pumas on Saturday at Estadio Presidente Juan Domingo Perón, and Erasmus was not in the mood for narrative gymnastics about what happens afterwards. When a journalist pushed Feinberg-Mngomezulu on how vital this match was to prove himself ahead of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, Erasmus cut in immediately.

'That's not in Sacha's hands,' he said. 'It's not him competing with Handré Pollard and Manie Libbok. It's Handré helping him this weekend to perform as well as he can — that's the way we operate.' He made clear that all three flyhalves are locked in for both the Greatest Rivalry squad and the 2027 World Cup, provided they stay fit and in form. The pecking order debate, as far as he's concerned, is a media construct.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu Returns to Test Rugby

Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who earns his 20th Springbok cap on Saturday in his first Test appearance of the year after recovering from injury, was equally measured. Asked what a four-Test series against New Zealand from 22 August to 12 September would mean to him, the 24-year-old deflected cleanly. 'I don't mean to disrespect your question, but I'm coming back from injury so I can't really be thinking two weeks ahead,' he said. 'I've played against the All Blacks four times now, I've enjoyed it every single time, and that's it. I'm focused on Saturday.'

Erasmus grew more pointed when asked whether the seven recalled Springboks in the match-day 23 — among them Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth, neither of whom will be asked to play a full 80 minutes — needed a reminder not to audition for Greater Rivalry selection. His response was a rebuke aimed squarely at the assembled media. 'If you're an Argentinian coach or Argentinian player, and we sit here talking about the All Blacks series and they hear this press conference, it will be a slap in their face,' he said.

Springboks Target Victory in Argentina

'We want to try and beat Argentina in Argentina, which is a really tough thing, if people believe it or not. They've given us the biggest hiding ever since we've coached the Springboks as a coaching team.' That was the 32-19 defeat in Mendoza in 2018 — a result Erasmus clearly has not forgotten and one that frames how seriously this group takes the challenge ahead. On Kolisi specifically, Erasmus kept it short: 'Don't have to worry, Siya's always delivered.'

He did confirm that the returning Boks will feature during Rugby's Greatest Rivalry — but the framing matters. 'We definitely know we're going to use them somewhere during the Greatest Rivalry, but we just have to get past this tough hurdle that's in front of us,' he said. For those wondering whether the Bok camp is already looking past Los Pumas, Erasmus gave his clearest answer yet: they are not, and he will not let his players or the press pretend otherwise.

The Springboks face Argentina on Saturday in Buenos Aires, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu pulling on the No 10 jersey for the first time this season. The Greatest Rivalry gets underway on 7 August when the Stormers host New Zealand at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.