Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has not completely ruled out a test debut this year, for the three triumphant World Rugby Under 20 Championship players he brought into the Springbok camp, but he says its highly unlikely.
The players, scrumhalf Haashim Pead, flank Bathobele Hlekani, and wing Cheswill Jooste were invited to the camp to get a taste of the teams culture and will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.
The Springboks are preparing in Johannesburg for the upcoming Rugby Championship against Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.
Erasmus is impressed with the under 20 players and they form part of his vision for the future. The plan is not to play them this year but the coach did leave the door slightly open.
"The three of them know 100 percent well that theres no chance that, apart from if they knock down the door and really blow us away at training sessions, they take part in every single part of the training sessions, the classroom sessions and the physical sessions so its not like we put them out of certain sessions. So, its not just to sit and listen and learn, its for them to take part as well and also show the older guys what is coming through," says Erasmus.
