Springboks team: Five takeaways as return to Bomb Squad and selection of ‘old warhorses’ indicates new Rassie Erasmus direction
Springboks veterans Willie le Roux and Handre Pollard,and head coach Rassie Erasmus (inset).
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has made a plethora of changes ahead of his team’s Rugby Championship encounter with the Wallabies at in Cape Town on Saturday.
After their shock 38-22 defeat against Joe Schmidt’s troops in last weekend’s fixture at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Erasmus has made 10 alterations to his starting line-up as the world champions look to bounce back.
Here are five Planet Rugby takeaways following Tuesday’s South Africa team announcement for the eagerly anticipated fixture.
The Bomb Squad is back
After fielding a traditional 5-3 spilt on his bench in last weekend’s corresponding Rugby Championship fixture against Australia in Johannesburg, Erasmus has reverted to his tried and trusted tactic of having six forwards and just two backline replacements for Saturday’s clash.
At Ellis Park, the Boks’ forward replacements failed to swing things in their team’s favour when they entered the fray as they were met by a huge onslaught from their counterparts but it will be a different story at the DHL Stadium as the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager and Wilco Louw – who all started last weekend – will be like caged animals when they are unleashed on their opponents.
Fellow forward replacements Kwagga Smith and Boan Venter will not be lacking in motivation in Cape Town as they aim to improve on their efforts from last week when they came off the bench in Johannesburg but failed to make an impact on proceedings.
Meanwhile, rookie forward Marnus van der Merwe will also be keen to impress after getting his chance as the back-up hooker ahead of the experienced Bongi Mbonambi.
Key backline duo return from injury
Erasmus revealed last week that he would not be risking the experienced backline duo of Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe, who were battling niggling injuries, and omitted them from his matchday squad for the Ellis Park encounter.
Both have been ruled fit for the Cape Town clash which will be a massive shot in the arm for the world champions as they aim to turn the tables on the Wallabies in their rematch.
Inside centre De Allende and winger Kolbe are amongst the best players in their respective positions in the world and will be expected to hit the ground running against the Wallabies.
De Allende usually gives the Boks much needed momentum with ball in hand while he is also solid on defence and his outstanding physicality in both departments will be crucial for the Boks.
Meanwhile, excitement machine Kolbe’s brilliance on attack can unlock the game’s tightest defences and if he finds himself in space on Saturday, it should be a long day at the office for the visitors’ defenders.
Jean-Luc du Preez back in favour
The 30-year-old loose forward has had few opportunities at international level in recent years but, with regular skipper Siya Kolisi sidelined due to injury, he gets a rare chance to make an impact for the Boks in their starting line-up in a Test.
Du Preez is an explosive ball carrier, an excellent defender and a handy option at the back of the lineout who will be a key protagonist in the grander scheme of things.
This is the second time this year that the Bordeaux-Begles-bound star will get a chance to show his class at number eight for the Boks after he also packed down at the base of the scrum against the Barbarians at the same venue earlier this year.
That encounter was the first time he represented South Africa in nearly two years – after he last played for his country during a 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up encounter against Argentina – but he only lasted 38 minutes before he was forced off the field due to concussion.
He will be hoping to make a bigger impact against the Wallabies.
Experienced playmakers back in favour
Erasmus has recalled the veteran backline duo of Handre Pollard (fly-half) and Willie le Roux (full-back) to his starting line-up for this do-or-die fixture against the Wallabies.
Pollard and Le Roux come into the run-on side at the expense of Manie Libbok and Aphelele Fassi respectively and, although the latter duo might bring more entertainment with ball in hand, Erasmus showed that he still has faith in his old warhorses who will be expected to give the side direction with their game management and excellent playmaking skills.
Despite being 36 years old, Le Roux is still a vital cog in the Springboks machine and it’s a similar story for Pollard, who is five years younger.
Both are double Rugby World up winners and their return to action should bring a calmness to the Boks’ approach as they look to reverse the tables on the Wallabies this weekend.
Change in style on the cards?
South Africa went into last weekend’s clash with Australia in a confident mood and the selection of game breakers like Libbok and Fassi, alongside the likes of Grant Williams, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe, as well as their 5-3 bench split, indicated that they were hoping to play expansively.
Williams is the only one who has retained his place in the starting line-up but, with a player like Pollard back and the return of several bruisers amongst the forwards, in the starting line-up and on the bench, don’t be surprised if the world champions revert to type and opt for a conservative game plan.
That means the Boks will keep the ball tight amongst their forwards with Pollard kicking for territory from which they will launch attacks. They will also take shots at goal when in range instead of kicking for touch which proved costly last weekend as they turned the ball over on several occasions when employing that tactic in Johannesburg.
