“Erasmus released four players – Steven Kitshoff (prop), Manie Libbok (flyhalf), Canan Moodie and Makazole Mapimpi (both wings) – to their provincial unions on Wednesday afternoon to get game time in the Carling Currie Cup this weekend,” the statement read on SARugby. All four men are still in the Springboks set up.

South Africa put a hand on the Rugby Championship trophy by beating New Zealand 18-12 on Saturday. The Springboks trailed 9-3 at halftime but scored the only two tries of the penalty-plagued game to remain unbeaten in the championship through four rounds.

Rassie Erasmus’ men have extended their longest winning streak over the All Blacks in the professional era to four matches following their 18-12 victory in Cape Town. South Africa’s streak began in 2023 before the Rugby World Cup when they secured their biggest-ever win over their fiercest rivals,