Intimidating French, Irish cauldrons will test Springboks - Erasmus

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has singled out tests against France and Ireland as the most "challenging" during a five-international tour of Europe in November.

The record four-time Rugby World Cup winners arrive in London this weekend to prepare for the first match, against Japan at Wembley Stadium next Saturday.

Then, on consecutive Saturdays, the Siya Kolisi-captained Springboks face France in Paris, Italy in Turin, Ireland in Dublin and Wales in Cardiff.

France want to avenge a one-point World Cup quarterfinal loss to eventual champions South Africa two years ago after an epic encounter.

Ireland have won the last three tests against South Africa in Dublin, including inflicting a humiliating 35-point defeat on the tourists in 2017.

"The matches against the French and Irish will be like World Cup knockout games," Erasmus told reporters before the squad left Johannesburg.

"We will see how our players adapt to playing high-pressure tests in the intimidating cauldrons of Paris and Dublin."

Erasmus says the tour is one of the most demanding undertaken by the Springboks for many seasons – last year they played only three tests during November.

They beat Scotland, England and Wales in 2024, and expectations are high among millions of Springbok supporters that the team can complete another clean sweep.

A vote in a South African rugby magazine showed 46 per cent of respondents believed South Africa would win all five internationals, and 42 per cent felt the tourists would win four.

"I am calling this a challenging tour because of the quality of the opposition we are going to face," said Erasmus, a key figure in the coaching teams that won the 2019 and 2023 World Cup tournaments.

"Ireland and France are currently ranked third and fourth in the world behind us and New Zealand, and while the other tests might seem easier on paper, you dare not write off any opponent.

SEEKING CONSISTENCY

"The Irish and French are always tough rivals and both won four of five Six Nations Championship matches this year. Beating them in Dublin and Paris will be huge challenges.

"Japan have beaten us before," he said, referring to a stunning group triumph by the Brave Blossoms in Brighton at the 2015 World Cup.

"Italy put up a good fight against us in Pretoria last July despite lacking many first choices and Wales won in Japan, proving they are again on an upward trajectory."

South Africa travel to Europe having won seven of nine tests this year. The highlight was a 43-10 victory over New Zealand in Wellington and the lowlight a 38-22 defeat by Australia in Johannesburg.

The Springboks pipped greatest rivals the All Blacks on points difference to win back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time.

"We delivered a few good performances, but also a few disappointing ones. Now I want to build consistency on the tour."

With an eye on the 2027 World Cup in Australia, where South Africa hope to become the first country to win the competition three times in a row, Erasmus has experimented.

His aim is to have at least three players competing for each position when he comes to choose the World Cup squad.

South Africa took only one fly-half, Manie Libbok, to the 2023 World Cup, before being bolstered by a second, Handre Pollard, after hooker Malcolm Marx was injured.

Pollard did not miss a goal kick as South Africa pulled off one-point knockout victories over France, England and New Zealand to retain the title.

Libbok and Pollard are in the squad for Europe, but it is the younger third playmaker, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who is overshadowing them with his all-round game.

He scored a Springbok record 37 points, including three tries, in a 67-30 Rugby Championship demolition of Argentina in Durban last month.

"Sacha did incredible things, but it does not just happen. He has grown a bit over time. There have been many mishaps in the lead up to this game," noted Erasmus.