‘Complete insanity’ – Springboks fans slam ‘bizarre’ Rassie Erasmus selections
Fans react to Rassie Erasmus' Springboks squad for the series against Ireland.
Despite naming an incredibly strong Springboks squad, head coach Rassie Erasmus has received some backlash from fans for his selections.
The Bok boss named a 39-man strong squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Ireland despite losing six World Cup winners to injury as well as two up-and-comers.
The depth at Erasmus’ disposal is further highlighted with a 12-man shortlist consisting of some of the South African United Rugby Championship teams’ best.
However, there are still omissions that have annoyed, perplexed and angered Springboks fans.
Springboks squad reaction
After winning back-to-back World Cups, Erasmus stated that he would need to blood fresh players with an eye on completing the three-peat in Australia in 2027.
While the Bok head coach has gone some way in doing so, issuing four debuts in his first game back in charge against Wales, one fan was still not pleased with the turnover in the squad.
“I’m not happy with the squad, feels a little bit as if people are getting selected on reputation rather than form,” their post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, read.
“I understand the need for experience, especially against a team like Ireland, but as soon as form doesn’t matter, it looks a little bit like mates’ rates.”
But opinions like that were quickly followed by the polar opposite, with one fan emphatically stating, “Wow, this team is going to punish Ireland”.
Elrigh Louw snub
Zoning in on the players, one name that repeatedly crept up as one that should have been included in the 39-man squad was Bulls star Elrigh Louw.
The back-rower enjoyed a superb season for the Bulls and was named in the URC Elite XV, with his efforts helping Jake White’s side reach the competition’s final. But still it was not enough to convince the Bok coaching staff.
“I love Dixon and Buthelezi, but Elrigh Louw would be in for me easily over those two,” Thala Msutu wrote in reaction to the squad.
While fellow Bulls supporter A-P Cronje echoed those sentiments as he felt that Louw’s fellow clubmate Ruan Nortje also deserved a place in the squad but he didn’t even feature on the standby list.
“Complete insanity not having Ruan Nortje or Elrigh Louw in that squad,” Cronje wrote.
He added: “If Elrigh isn’t injured then I need someone to explain that to me. Because that is absolutely crazy. Ruan Nortje also massively snubbed. Feel for them because to me this is madness.”
Another fan reacted, stating that Louw “is a crazy omission, but in Rassie we trust”.
Erasmus is known for holding some of his cards tight to his chest and making some surprise selections and this squad was no different.
All Blacks great makes bizarre claim around ‘ball playing’ Springboks props
Strange hooker call
He called up two further uncapped players in Bulls front-rowers Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels. While the former has been superb over the last few seasons, the latter was used sparingly in the latter stages of the Bulls’ campaign and was largely viewed as the team’s third-choice hooker.
Commenting on Wessels’ call-up, Erasmus said: “Jan-Hendrik is equally efficient at prop and hooker, which increases our front-row options, and hopefully, with their talent and drive, they will add great value to the squad.”
But his inclusion still baffled onlookers.
“I don’t quite get the Jan-Hendrik Wessels thing to be honest with you,” Msutu added.
With Cronje stating: “Wessels who has not played for the Bulls in ages also walks into the squad ahead of A-H Venter? Another bizarre call tbh…some of these calls are truly puzzling.”
Analyst Angus Usher summed up the reactions to the squad with an apt meme.
⏳Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives⌛️ pic.twitter.com/Y7mwzU5idd
— Angus (@AnalystGus) June 25, 2024
While there was plenty of outcry for some unfortunate players, it was mixed with plenty of positives.
Notably, scrum enthusiast Front Row Grunt highlighted the depth and versatility of the selected Springbok props.
“Two tightheads, two looseheads, and two swingers … Covers a lot of bases, and speaks to continuity … But sjoe, in Fouche and Louw, you have 2 tightheads who would make most national squads,” he wrote.
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