THE Sables’ unbeaten run in last year’s Rugby Africa Cup has drawn international attention, with South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus among those closely monitoring their rise.
The Springbok tactician has hailed the World Cup-bound Zimbabwe side as a quality outfit ahead of a high-profile clash this winter.
The South Africa ‘A’ side is scheduled to face the Sables in a curtain-raiser to the main match between the Springboks and the Barbarian F.C at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on June 20.
Both South Africa and Zimbabwe will represent the African continent at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
For the Sables, the road to Australia is already paved with a packed international calendar.
Preparations are currently in full swing, with Zimbabwe set to take on Zambia in Harare on April 25, followed by a clash at Hartsfield Rugby Ground in Bulawayo on May 2.
The Pieter Benade-coached side will then head to the World Rugby Nations Cup in July. Their campaign begins against Tonga in Denver, USA, on July 4, before moving to Charlotte to face the United States. They will conclude their July fixtures against Canada in Winnipeg.
Erasmus believes the June encounter in Gqeberha will serve as vital preparation for both nations.
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“The match between the SA ‘A’ team and Zimbabwe will serve as a fantastic opportunity for both teams to achieve some of their objectives with the Rugby World Cup in mind,” he said.
Erasmus added that from South Africa’s perspective, such matches are key in building depth and competitiveness within the squad.
“From a South African point of view, we have seen the benefits of having an SA ‘A’ team playing against quality opposition,” he said.
Erasmus has guided the Springboks to two successive Rugby World Cup triumphs and will be aiming for a third consecutive title in Australia next year.
In 2019, he served as head coach, and in 2023, he was the director of rugby.
He has now returned as head coach for the global showpiece. Sables head coach Pieter Benade also emphasised the significance of the fixture, noting that it will serve as a litmus test for his side as they prepare for their return to the global stage.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to test ourselves against one of the world’s top rugby nations and a truly elite system,” he said.
“It’s a challenge we embrace and one that promises to push our standards to another level.”
Benade further highlighted the value of such high-level competition in developing his squad.
“Experiences like this are invaluable. They expose our players to the highest level of competition, accelerate their growth and play a key role in the continued development of our squad,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to the lessons ahead and the chance to showcase our progress on the international stage.”
Zimbabwe heads into the season buoyed by their historic Rugby Africa Cup triumph in Uganda, where they edged Namibia 30-28 in the final.
That victory secured their place at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, ending a 36-year absence from the global tournament dating back to 1991.
