Will Rassie cull some older Springboks before RWC 2027?

The quality of depth in our Springbok men's squad is undoubtedly the envy of every rugby nation. Thanks, in large part, to Rassie Erasmus. But for our more seasoned players, possibly lifting the World Cup for a third time is not a foregone conclusion come the 2027 tournament in Australia. “Erasmus has been the most impossible coach to predict over the last six or seven years. It’s just been surprise, after surprise in everything he’s done,” says News24's Sport Editor, Lloyd Burnard. In this episode of the Lead, Burnard argues that although many fan favourites are approaching their mid-thirties, Erasmus may retain these “golden oldies” if they can keep up their match-ready momentum. Later, we look into the staggering number of items confiscated from South African prisons. We also ask if Rooibos tea could be the protection petrol attendants need. You can now mail your views, news, and voice notes to thelead@24.com. New episodes drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00.