Schalk Brits questions Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks bench logic and gives Manie Libbok verdict
Former Springbok gives verdict on 'mature' fly half but questions Rassie Erasmus' bench logic
Former Springbok hooker Schalk Brits has questioned Rassie Erasmus’ logic in not having a recognised fly-half on the bench for South Africa’s Nations Championship opener against England on Saturday.
Double World Cup winner Handre Pollard failed to make the matchday 23 after a poor performance in the recent United Rugby Championship final, while regular number 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is out with injury.
This has left the mercurial Manie Libbok to lead from outside-half, with limited replacement options if a change is needed mid-game.
Fly-half bench call
“I thought Handre would be at least on the bench, right?” suggested Brits on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast.
“So, if he gets injured, who’s gonna play a 10? He can play Damian [de Allende] at 10, while Cheslin [Kolbe] can play 10 as well.”
Kolbe famously played at number 10 against both La Rochelle and Racing 92 while at Toulouse, but is typically employed on the wing for the Springboks. De Allende, while able to demonstrate impressive playmaking skills from the midfield, has never started a professional game at fly-half.
The other option at 10 would likely be Andre Esterhuizen, who has often demonstrated his ability and willingness to provide versatility across the lineup, but again, his lack of time as the first receiver would create a huge risk in such a vital matchup. Finally, Damian Willemse has also started eight Tests for the Boks in the position.
“He can literally do things that other fly halves can’t”
Erasmus is clearly confident in Libbok’s ability to lead the side’s backs for the full 80, which is a huge show of confidence after the 28-year-old last started for the Springboks against Australia in August 2025.
Libbok, while on the field, will provide an entirely different option to either Feinberg-Mngomezulu or Pollard. However, Brits believes Springboks fans will see a “traditional” fly half performance.
“You’ve got Ox [Nche], Malcolm [Marx], and Thomas [du Toit], Eben [Etzebeth], plus Ruan [Nortje]; they’re gonna try to get dominance in the front. That is scary with that kind of pack.
“It’s not the biggest pack we could have picked, but I mean, you’ve got multiple lineout options, you’ve got Jasper [Wiese] coming off the back of the scrums, he’s going to come hard. It’s going to be just a forward-dominated start to the game.”
Libbok will have the opportunity to create magic behind what Rassie Erasmus will hope will be a dominant forward pack. Brits wasn’t short of praise for the Kintetsu Liners star.
“He can literally do things that other fly halves can’t. It’s just the vision he’s got, the passes he’s got, the way he expresses himself, and if Manie, from a confidence perspective, if he’s up there, he is a guy very hard to play against.”
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Despite all his worldly talent, Libbok has struggled to pin down the Springbok starting shirt due to questions over his consistency and ability to control a game. But now, in his peak years, this could be prime time for him to take control ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“Handre’s got his structure; he can dominate a game. I think the question that Rassie wants to ask Manie is, ‘Can he manage the game?'”
Question marks remain over Libbok’s inclusion, but Brits remains confident.
“I believe with age and time, it’s four years later, I think he’s grown as a player. He’s a lot more mature, and I think that it’s going to be exciting to see a Manie that is more composed.
“He can always step, kick, run, whatever he can do from a skills perspective, but I guess the older you get, the more stable you become and make better decisions.
“If you take out all the fancy fly-halves in their early 20s, they just become better over time. Giving those exciting fives, time in the seat, the better they become, and that’s, I think, that’s the reality with Manie.”
