Boks reject 'disrespect' claims in team selection

It may be the first bid to disrupt the Springboks from their goal of starting the Castle Lager Rugby Championship on a high, but the team looked surprised by some suggestions in the Australian media that the Boks were “disrespecting” Australia with their team choice for Saturday’s match at Loftus Versfeld.

The Boks have selected a strong team - while 13 players head to New Zealand to be fresh for the challenge of facing the All Blacks next weekend in Auckland - with many of the World Cup-winning first-choice players on the plane.

Despite that, players such as Frans Malherbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Lukhanyo Am will all line up in the starting XV that could easily be argued is as strong as the one that will play in New Zealand next week.

So when the question came, it looked as if it surprised the Springboks, especially with the backstory that most teams will be experimenting with just five tests to go before the World Cup.

It seemed like a failed attempt at drumming up some controversy ahead of a test that has seen little in the build-up and it wasn’t surprising that the Boks rejected it out of hand.

“I can tell you we don’t disrespect them - that is why we are only letting the guys fly across tonight and tomorrow because we want proper preparation. We have been preparing for three weeks for Australia,” SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus answered.

“It is more respect for the competition and not a lack of respect for Australia. We would not have a chance against New Zealand if we arrive there on a Tuesday, have one training session and play them after a side like Australia.

“I’m pretty sure it will be a very competitive match on Saturday and Eddie will get that.”

A REPEAT OF PAST PLANNING

The Boks' plan to split their resources has been understood, especially in the context that this was precisely the plan when they started their run-in to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which they won in Japan.

A so-called second-string outfit beat Australia in Johannesburg while several of the squad were in Wellington where a week later they drew with New Zealand.

Given Australia’s record on the highveld and the chance for every squad member to put their hands up for a place in the World Cup group, it was hardly surprising to see the Boks split their squad again in the circumstances.

Erasmus said while Australia had sent their strongest team - hopefully, to make a statement in their first test under Jones, they would then head back home for two home games back to back, which made a difference to their approach.

“I can’t talk for them but I do know they have two home games in Australia and we don’t - we fly to New Zealand and then we come back here. It is a bit of a difference.”

Plus, an analysis of the Bok team certainly doesn’t point to a weaker side, especially as the front row has interchanged so often that it is hard to determine which is the stronger setpiece nowadays.

At lock, Jean Kleyn has been given a chance to stake a claim for the World Cup while Marvin Orie has shown his steel for the Stormers in the URC. Marco van Staden is getting his 11th cap and deserves a start in front of his home crowd.

Manie Libbok is the only fully fit flyhalf, and Cobus Reinach has had scant chances since scoring the fastest hat-trick at the World Cup four years ago.

Lukhanyo Am is still the Boks first choice 13, as is Willie le Roux at 15, while Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie could easily stake a claim for a starting role in the strongest XV. Andre Esterhuizen has performed exceptionally well for Harlequins and is always someone on the fringes that deserves a chance.

So in reality, bar one or two positions where the Boks want to have a look at fringe players, there is nothing wrong with this starting lineup and suggestions of “disrespect” are laughable at least, and a feeble attempt to drum up a storyline.

The Wallabies are due to name their side on Thursday.