Springboks: Rassie Erasmus backs ‘natural footballer’ to ‘flourish’ in Tony Brown’s attack
Rassie Erasmus has hit out at the suggestion that the scrum-halves are struggling in the team's new attacking structures.
Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus has hit out at the suggestion that the scrum-halves are struggling in the team’s new attacking structures.
Erasmus took over as head coach of the Springboks following the 2023 Rugby World Cup with Jacques Nienaber heading to Leinster.
Needing to fill Nienaber’s expertise on defence and Felix Jones’ nous on attack – the Irishman joining Steve Borthwick’s England coaching team – Erasmus hired ex-Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery and former All Blacks fly-half Tony Brown.
Flannery has since taken charge of the Springboks‘ defence and Brown on the team’s attack in Erasmus’ staff.
Both coaches have certainly made their mark. The Boks denid the All Blacks a try in their clash at Cape Town Stadium, while South Africa have looked far more expansive with ball in hand in 2024.
‘Jaden Hendrikse is a natural footballer’
However, some pundits and fans have been of the view that the Springboks’ scrum-halves have struggled to settle into the new attacking patterns that Brown is implementing with the side, but Erasmus does not agree with that perspective.
In fact, the Springboks boss is backing this week’s starting scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse to thrive in the new system.
“For a guy like Jaden who is starting this weekend, it is very exciting. It always is for the younger nines like Grant Williams and Jaden,” Erasmus said.
“We have had some injuries with Faf [de Klerk] and Herschel [Jantjies] but we have the calmer head with Cobus Reinach who is in his 30s.
“I actually think that a guy like Jaden will flourish in the way we want to play. He’s a natural footballer and I don’t think the game plan has impacted the performances of the nines and whoever said that I disagree with it.”
Jaco Peyper rubbishes Ben O’Keeffe Springboks bias claims after ‘bitter’ Antoine Dupont criticism
Hendrikse has been handed the starting jersey for the crunch clash against Argentina which will decide the Rugby Championship, with the Springboks needing a single log point to seal the title.
He will partner fly-half Manie Libbok, with the pair both being elevated from the bench following the defeat to Los Pumas in round five of the competition.
The Sharks’ scrum-half is the fifth player to feature in the number nine jersey with De Klerk, Morne van den Berg, Reinach and Williams all filling the starting role in 2024.
De Klerk and lock boost for November
Double World Cup winner De Klerk featured in both Test matches against Ireland in July, as well as the clash against Wales at Twickenham Stadium.
However, he has missed the entire Rugby Championship through injury but, according to reports, he will be fit for the upcoming November internationals.
De Klerk’s rehabilitation program is progressing to such an extent that he will be available for the November Tests against Scotland, England and Wales, according to Rapport.
It will be a timely boost for the Boks with Damian Willemse also marking his return for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship this week.
RG Snyman is also set to make his comeback with Leinster in the coming weeks while fellow lock Jean Kleyn played his first game for Munster in 10 months, featuring in their opening URC game of the new season.
