The 10 changes made to the team for Saturday’s return match against Australia in Perth might give many Springbok fans uncomfortable memories of how a similar changed up team stumbled against Wales two years ago but if there are concerns coach Rassie Erasmus doesn’t share them.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Rassie Erasmus has made a host of changes to the Springbok team that will face the Wallabies in Perth 🇿🇦🚨 pic.twitter.com/UJgMpj1dNf
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 13, 2024
The Boks were comfortable 33-7 winners in the opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship game at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane last week, and in achieving victory they ended an 11-year drought at that venue. Erasmus has decided to give Salmaan Moerat the captaincy armband for the second time so Siya Kolisi steps aside this week as several relative newcomers get an opportunity to show their worth against a Tier One nation away from home.
However, while Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Ruan Nortje and Morne van den Berg will all be playing only their second games in the Bok jersey, and three others in in Elrigh Louw, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Aphelele Fassi have just five caps, Erasmus feels there is enough depth around them and on the bench for the risk to be negligible.
The Springbok tight five that will face the Wallabies this weekend have a combined 30 test caps.
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Coach Rassie Erasmus explains the selection and is confident with a bench full of experience 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/wxiAOnnr2P
He said in an online press conference after announcing his changed up team that in no way should the selection be seen as a sign of disrespect to Australia,and said that he backed the team to do go out and do the job of seeing off the challenge of a Wallaby side he expects to be much improved on last week.
“It is important for us to win the Rugby Champs and it would be fantastic to follow up last week’s performance with another win and it would be a slap in the face of the players selected if we thought they couldn’t be as good as last weekend,” said Erasmus from Perth.
“This is not disrespect to Australia and not us being nonchalant. We have 33 players on tour and 45 in the wider squad who train with us all the time. We have picked a team to win what we expect to be a tough game against a side that wants to bounce back.
“If this team played last week’s team they would given that team a hell of a go. We are interested in seeing who steps up in Perth where there are lots of South African and also Aussie supporters. It will be tough, we are not expecting this game to be a walk in the park.”
NOT A SERIES DECIDER
Erasmus pinpointed the difference between this game and the second Test against Ireland in Durban in March, when he adopted the continuity mantra in selection.
“This is not a series where the second game will determine the outcome. We’ve got 33 Boks, and we decided if things go according to plan everyone here is hopefully good enough to get us a second win. It is not a do or die game for us, there are still games against New Zealand and Argentina to come in the Championship. We have 14 Rugby World Cup winners in the group so hopefully the younger guys can learn from the older guys.”
Erasmus added that the systematic building of depth that he is busy with means that even the relative newcomers now have a few games behind them that will make them more comfortable.
“Guys like Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu), Elrigh (Louw) and Aphelele (Fassi) have played five games now, and Thomas du Toit has played many times. These are not first caps. Salmaan has been captain before, and we were impressed with him. There are some guys who’ve only had one cap, but all the others have played.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok and Handre Pollard in the same matchday Springbok squad 😮🦵 pic.twitter.com/OMYySkvz5W
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“And on the bench, we have all Rugby World Cup winning guys. They will bring onto the field experienced and calm heads that can make the right decisions and change the game should it be necessary. But it is important for us to help guys like Sacha build their experience. It is not just about getting them to tally up the caps, but to get them comfortable with international rugby and what is expected.”
POLLARD SET FOR TIME AT INSIDE CENTRE
Among the more interesting selections is Lukhanyo Am’s inclusion at inside centre as Jesse Kriel’s midfield partner. Am has played most of his rugby at outside centre, but he has the distribution and creative skills to go well at No12, while Handre Pollard is set to play in the midfield rather than his usual flyhalf when he comes onto the field off the bench.
“The first thing we want is to win the match, but we are also mindful of the minutes all the players have played and the need to keep them fresh,” Erasmus said.
“Lukhanyo played as a 12 at the beginning of his career (in the Eastern Cape) and it is where he started. It was only when he went to the Sharks that he ended up being a 13. He has also played wing for us. Damian de Allende is our normal 12, Andre Esterhuizen is not available due to suspension, but we can’t expect Damian to just keep racking up the minutes.
“Jesse (Kriel) is good on defence and attack, and Lukhanyo was brilliant against Portugal, where he effectively had to cover 12 and 13 due to the red card for Andre. We are looking forward to seeing what Handre can do at inside centre, and of course Andre will fit in there again when his suspension is over.”