Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says it’s “a massive honour” for three of their stalwarts to be nominated for the 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year award.
Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche are in the running for the award along with France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
Erasmus said the recognition was richly deserved, even if the Boks try not to get swept up in individual accolades.
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“We are very happy for them. We tend to focus on things that we can control and it’s probably mostly the scoreboard.
“Sometimes these awards get handed out and then you don’t quite understand how they get to it.
“But we are very proud of those guys. Even if they don’t get it, at least they were nominated. It’s a massive honour and they’ve all contributed so much this season.”
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Erasmus added that the team hopes their performance against Ireland will help strengthen each player’s case.
“I guess the way we play on Saturday must try and support them and help them to get closer to that,” he said. “But we’re very thankful to the people who nominated them, and hopefully the boys can make it.”
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Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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