Changed Bok bench split directed at blunting specific challenge

The radical seven/one bench split between forwards and backs against Scotland last week was selected around meeting the challenge of a short turnaround so the Springboks were always to move away from it against England, but the extent to which they have changed was a surprise.

Instead of going six/two like they have for much of the season, but certainly not all of it, they’ve gone to the five/three split for Saturday's clash at Twickenham. Five/three used to be considered the conventional mix on the bench before the Boks pioneered a change that, despite the criticism they often receive for it, many other teams have subsequently followed and have made fairly common place.

It certainly should shut up those who criticise the Boks for their strategy and want it outlawed, but Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus did not make his selection around the need to make a point and prove that his team isn’t completely reliant on the so-called Bomb Squad to be successful. Instead, he says, it was directed around the specific challenge posed by England.

“England poses a completely different challenge to Scotland, and we selected our squad based on what we would like to do in the match and also what we think will be best to counter the challenge that England poses,” said Erasmus after announcing a team that shows 12 changes to the one that beat Scotland 32-15 in Edinburgh last Sunday.

Although there is no Bomb Squad as such, the Boks do have enough versatility in several positions, most notably Pieter-Steph du Toit being equally at home at lock as he is in his regular position of blindside flank, to retain the Bomb Squad effect. Replacement Elrigh Louw can also play flank, No 8 and lock, while Kwagga Smith can fit into any back row position.

And at the back there is versatility too, with Handre Pollard a possible inside centre replacement later in the game for Damian de Allende as he is for starting flyhalf Manie Libbok.

“Fortunately we have quite a few players who can switch positions if necessary, so we feel we have adequate depth throughout the team, which allowed us to select this group of replacements,” explained the coach.

SCOTLAND SELECTION DIRECTED AROUND SHORT WEEK

He reminded the team announcement press conference that he’s already stated in going seven/one with the replacements last week that it was geared towards dealing with the short six day turnaround between the Murrayfield game, played on Sunday, and the one in London on Saturday.

“The turnaround between Scotland and England was short so we had to be smart in our selection to enable us to field a fresh squad. There are only six days between the two tough test matches. It obviously has a knock-on effect in the sense that we’ve made 12 changes to the starting line-up, but we have been rotating all season.

“Over and above that, most of these players know each other really well having played together for the last seasons, as well in the Rugby World Cup, the July series, the Rugby Championship, so we have been pleased with the quality of the team we have been able to name.”

Erasmus made it clear he and the squad were not reading too much into the poor results England have produced in the Autumn Series so far, with a narrow loss to the All Blacks being followed by a last gasp defeat to Australia.

“England come off two narrow defeats, but the quality of their performance was good in both games, so we sized up the challenge,” said Erasmus.

“We lost narrowly to Ireland in France in back-to-back matches on our tour in 2022 and a year later we were world champions again so we know we shouldn’t read too much into two results.”

He added that the spread of wins and losses between the two nations in recent times was fairly even so he was anticipating an arm-wrestle on Saturday.