Rassie Erasmus says “it just got tougher” for the Springboks after front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels was reportedly banned for nine weeks.
According to Rapport, Wessels has been suspended for grabbing Connacht flank Josh Murphy’s genitals during the Bulls match in Galway last weekend despite a lack of video evidence.
MORE: Bok heavy hit with nine-week ban
This followed the news that veteran Sharks and Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi, who was named in the Boks’ standby group for the tour, had received a five-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Ulster fullback Michael Lowry at Kings Park last Saturday that resulted in a red card.
ALSO: Banned Mapimpi out of Bok tour
“It just got tougher!” Erasmus tweeted on Thursday morning. “We now have to beat them on the field and in the boardrooms. Hamba man. Tsek. Loop kak.”
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The Boks face Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales in November.
It just got tougher !! We now have to beat them on the field. and in the boardrooms. Hamba man. Tsek. Loop Kak
— Johan Erasmus (@RassieRugby) October 23, 2025
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images