30.11.2025
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Boks head to 2027 Rugby World Cup draw as top seed

5 mins



  • Springboks finish the season with a massive victory over Wales.

The Springboks capped their year with a record 73-0 defeat of Wales in Cardiff. The Boks lost just twice in 2025 and finished up as the number one-ranked team in the world. They will be seeded first for the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, which takes place on Wednesday.

The team is, however, sweating on the sanction that will be meted out to lock Eben Etzebeth, after an eye gouge late in the match.

A satisfying win, but it is that red card against Eben Etzebeth that will leave a bitter taste. Unlike the other red cards picked up along the way on this end-of-year tour, for an eye gouge, there can be few mitigating factors.

Captain Siya Kolisi says players know the book will be thrown at them for this sort of infraction.

“I am sure he did not mean to do that on purpose. There is no way if you go for an eye gouge, you know what happens after that but hopefully he has said sorry to the guy already but I don’t want that to be the highlight of the day, it has been a good day,” says Kolisi.

Coach Rassie Erasmus was also caught off guard by the actions of his most senior player.

“I dont know what I can say now that won’t be controversial. It didn’t look good I think it justified red card, how it happened and why it happened, if he was provoked I’m not sure but that is definitely not the way we would have liked to end the game. I don’t think the optics were great,” says Erasmus.

For the Boks it is job done, as they finish as the best team in the world, and now wait for the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

“This year for us ending top of the table was pretty important. We never look at the rankings, but this year we don’t know if it will be beneficial when the draw comes out this week we are not sure what will happen,” Erasmus adds.

Erasmus also addressed concerns that this team is peaking too early for the World Cup in 2027.

“If you want to cover all your bases for the world cup, then you have to get even better than we were this year but it was a satisfying year….trying to evolve keep on winning and sort of find a balance between getting experience and squad depth i think in that regard we are okay but it is now seven months and then we only play again,” Erasmus elaborates.

The draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup happens on Wednesday, the 3rd of December. The defending champions have done all they can to be ready.

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