Rassie Erasmus: We won’t pick young guys in Japan

South Africa’s two-time World Cup-winning head coach Rassie Erasmus has ruled out picking young players who ply their trade in the Japan’s League One competition.

Erasmus, who signed a contract extension on Friday through to 2031, was speaking online during a post-World Cup draw press conference.

The Springboks’ all-conquering squad has a core group of Japan-based players which has the full support of the former South Africa captain.

Marx in action for Kubota v Saitama - © JRLO

Newly-crowned World Player of The Year Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Damian de Allende (Saitama Wild Knights), Jesse Kriel and Faf de Klerk (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) and Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) are among the strong League One contingent featuring for the world champions. 

Erasmus hailed the relationship the South African Rugby Union enjoys with Japanese clubs but issued a warning to young Springboks hopefuls who are tempted to make the leap to League One.

“I think for certain players who’ve made their mark and then go to the Japanese league, it's definitely less tiring on their bodies,” said the 2019 World Rugby Coach of the Year.

“I do think that we’ve got a great relationship with Japanese clubs where for last year's game outside the window their players were available, we played against Japan.

“The last game against Wales, some of the Japanese clubs released their players but League One also has a rule that you can only have so many foreign-based players so they get a rest there the older guys.

“For a young guy to go Japan, we will definitely not pick him. Manie Libbok is playing in the B division in Japan and we know what he can do and he’s being coached by Quade Cooper and Will Genia there. 

Uncapped Sanele Nohamba, 26, joined Shizuoka in February

“There’s a lot of things that’s positive there but not for a young guy to go over there and think we’re still going to pick him.” 

League One's fifth season kicks off next week on Saturday 13 December.