Springboks team: Ballsy Rassie Erasmus takes HUGE Rugby Championship gamble as shock 23 named for second Wallabies Test
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus alongside Makazole Mapimpi and Aphelele Fassi.
Rassie Erasmus has decided to make mass changes to his Springboks side for their second Test against the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday.
At this point, very little is particularly surprising with the South Africa head coach, but it is a gamble which could backfire in this tournament.
However, Erasmus has shown that Rugby Championship silverware means little if they fail at the Rugby World Cup in 2027 and he has made his intentions clear with this selection.
“We made it clear from the outset this season that one of our main goals is to build squad depth with an eye on the next Rugby World Cup here in Australia, and we feel there is no better way to test some of the younger players and assess where we are as a group against a top-Tier nation, especially away from home, in this match,” the Boks boss said.
“We have a group of about 45 players that are part of our wider squad this season and we’ve seen what most of these players can do.
“We have full faith in the younger generation of players coming through, and we feel this is the right time to Test them against an Australian outfit that will be desperate to bounce back strongly from last weekend.”
10 changes
Just five players remain from the team that started the first Rugby Championship clash. Youngsters Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Elrigh Louw keep their places after impressive showings last weekend, while Jesse Kriel and Cheslin Kolbe continue at centre and wing respectively.
Pieter-Steph du Toit also starts for the second week running but shifts positions, moving back to flanker after filling in at lock for the injured RG Snyman.
“All of the younger players made a strong impression against Portugal and in the other Tests in which they received an opportunity to showcase their skills, and we believe that their hunger to play, combined with their individual skills will be a fantastic driving force for them to build on the result in Brisbane,” Erasmus added.
“We have a big squad, and it’s important to balance some players’ workload while at the same time bringing a few young players into the mix, and this squad allows us to do both.
“This also means that every player in this travelling squad will have an opportunity to play. All of the players who have been excluded from the squad have been regulars this season and we feel we’ll benefit in different ways by resting them this week.”
There are 10 changes in all with two of them coming in the back three as Aphelele Fassi and Makazole Mapimpi join Kolbe.
At centre, Lukhanyo Am combines with Kriel, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Morne van den Berg are the half-backs.
Alongside Louw and Du Toit in the loose trio is Marco van Staden, with Ruan Nortje and Salmaan Moerat in the engine room.
Finally, the front-row is the same trio that started against Portugal as Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels line up together once again.
On the bench, there is huge experience, especially up front, as Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth and Kwagga Smith are the forward replacements, with Grant Williams and two fly-halves – Manie Libbok and Handre Pollard – covering the backs.
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Springboks team to face Wallabies
Springboks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Handré Pollard
Date: Saturday, August 17
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 17:55 local (10:55 BST, 09:55 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
