Springboks squad winners and losers as Rassie Erasmus backs ‘insane’ talent, snubs locks against Australia

Following the announcement of Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks squad to face Australia in their opening Rugby Championship match in Brisbane, here are our winners and losers from the selection.

The Springboks head to Suncorp Stadium in search of their first win at the ground since 2013 and Erasmus has certainly made some interesting selection calls in an attempt to end their losing streak.

The Bok head coach has once again opted for a 6-2 split and while he has picked a rather experienced team boasting 836 Test caps in the starting XV and 269 on the bench, there is still some tinkering as he continues to ease the next generation in.

Without further ado, here are our winners and losers from the team named for the Rugby Championship opener.

Winners

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is without a doubt the biggest winner from Erasmus’ matchday 23 selection as the 22-year-old earns his first start for the Springboks, having made his Test debut against Wales at Twickenham in June. The rookie has quickly become a regular for the Springboks – aided by his versatility and Damian Willemse’s absence – but has taken his opportunities with both hands.

He made a telling impact off the bench in each of his four previous matches, playing nearly a full match at full-back in the second Test against Ireland, and now gets the chance to shine from the first whistle.

It isn’t just the fact that he is handed the start but the manner in which he is getting it in a huge Test match away from home against a team that the Springboks have struggled to beat on the road. He has also been afforded the luxury of a hugely experienced backline around him equipping him with all the tools to succeed. All of the other six backline players are Rugby World Cup winners and outside of Kurt-Lee Arendse, the other players have all played more than 30 Test caps.

Willie le Roux’s inclusion at full-back is also a huge asset to the youngster as the veteran will assist him in running the attack – and few are better at doing just that than the veteran Bok. Lastly, Erasmus has included Handre Pollard as an ‘insurance policy’ on the bench which will allow the rookie to go out and express himself.

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Cobus Reinach

Even with Faf de Klerk and Jaden Hendrikse injured, there is plenty of competition at scrum-half with Morne van den Berg and Grant Williams making the trip Down Under. However, Cobus Reinach is full deserving of his opportunity after a tidy performance against Portugal.

Many still question the 34-year-old’s inclusion in the squad but he seldom has an under-par performance for the Springboks and this week he is the perfect mix of experience and X-factor to partner Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the half-backs.

Elrigh Louw

After initially being overlooked for the mid-year internationals by the Springboks coaching staff, Elrigh Louw was given the opportunity to stake his claim against Portugal and he certainly took it with both hands. A 33-minute cameo against Os Lobos saw him leapfrog Evan Roos in the pecking order and booked his ticket to Australia.

With Jasper Wiese still suspended, it was a two-horse race for the starting number eight jumper between Louw and Kwagga Smith and he has come out on top this week. Frankly, it is just reward after a superb season for the Bulls.

Willie le Roux

Le Roux continues to edge closer to becoming the eighth Springboks centurion as he will earn his 96th Test cap on Saturday. The veteran is back from a second and hopefully last concussion of the year but his return straight into the starting XV only highlights his importance to the team.

A true general with his masterful attacking eye, Le Roux will be crucial to getting the Springboks’ new attacking structure firing.

Ben-Jason Dixon

Another huge Test match awaits Ben-Jason Dixon, who starred against Wales and Portugal, as he fills the lock cover on the bench. Dixon flew somewhat under the radar for the Stormers this season but has clearly impressed the coaching staff with his performances in the mid-year internationals.

While he is seen as a successor to Pieter-Steph du Toit at blindside, he will likely replace either Eben Etzebeth or RG Snyman against the Wallabies.

Rassie Erasmus

Being the Springboks head coach is no walk in the park but it does come with its luxuries such as selecting a team to fit your structures rather than fitting a gameplan around what is available. But Erasmus is not a winner for that this time around, but rather for his bravery to give players like Louw and Feinberg-Mngomezulu an opportunity in such a testing fixture.

The Wallabies have proven to be a banana skin team for the Boks in the past, particularly at Saturday’s venue, and no one would have scolded Erasmus for backing the tried and tested instead.

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Losers

Handre Pollard

As mentioned above, Pollard looks to be included on the bench as somewhat of an insurance policy for Feinberg-Mngomezulu if things aren’t quite going well for the rookie or the team in general. Pollard generally only plays fly-half and could fill in at inside centre, so having him as one of the backline replacements is a bit of a risk particularly if he replaces the more versatile Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

At 30 years old, Pollard still has plenty to offer the Springboks going forward but this could be viewed as a turning point for the veteran pivot with the next generation not just knocking on the door but punching holes through it. Experience is hugely valuable at international level and that is highlighted by his inclusion on the bench but he will still be sweating.

Grant Williams

While Pollard’s experience counted in his favour, Williams’ probably counted against him with the Bok coaches rewarding Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s form ahead of the livewire scrum-half’s.

Williams has been in stellar nick for the Boks and Sharks this year and would be deserving of a second start in his preferred position but will need to wait a bit longer as Reinach gets the nod ahead of him this week. Still, he has been brilliant off the bench and expect nothing less on Saturday.

Ruan Nortje and Salmaan Moerat

Bulls star Ruan Nortje was called into the squad to help deal with a bit of a lock injury crisis with Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert sidelined. With both stars being lineout callers, Nortje was in with a shot of making the team but instead the Bok coaches have backed the versatile Dixon to cover the position off the bench, with Etzebeth and RG Snyman understandably taking the starting roles.

Meanwhile, Salmaan Moerat has also been overlooked despite captaining the Springboks last time out against Portugal and giving a good account of himself. Both players are likely to get opportunities further down the line this year but will both be somewhat disappointed it isn’t this weekend.

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Manie Libbok

After steering the Springboks through the pool stages of the World Cup and starting the quarter and semi-finals, Manie Libbok looks to be slipping down the fly-half pecking order. He played just 44 minutes against Portugal after missing the Test matches against Wales and Ireland and has now been usurped by Feinberg-Mngomezulu for the opening Rugby Championship match.

His goal-kicking issues have arisen once again and Erasmus noted that was part of the reason that Feinberg-Mngomezulu gets his shot this weekend, but it is tough for a player who is getting limited chances to force his way back into the matchday 23.

Evan Roos

After being overlooked for the two Tests against Australia, Roos has opted to undergo surgery that will rule him out for the remainder of the Springboks’ season. Fair play to him in making that decision as it will probably serve him better going forward, but one cannot help but think with Wiese and Cameron Hanekom out that Roos could have made more out of his chances and could well have started on Saturday.

Lukhanyo Am

Lukhanyo Am looked to be hitting form again albeit against Portugal last time out and could have easily slipped into the midfield alongside Damian de Allende. Instead, Erasmus is continuing with the in-form and brilliant Jesse Kriel, who filled Am’s void marvellously last year and has continued to do so.

When fully fit, Am is one of the best outside centres in the world and a start against Australia could well have been another chance for him to hit those highs again, but he too will need to be patient.

Kwagga Smith

Perhaps a bit harsh on Smith as he returns to probably his most effective role on the bench, but the back-rower didn’t quite grasp the opportunity to lock down the number eight jersey. Still, he will be invaluable off the pine and provide an intriguing triple-fetcher impact in the latter stages of the game with Malcolm Marx and Marco van Staden.

Thomas du Toit

The superb front-row depth is perfectly summed up by the fact that even with Steven Kitshoff sidelined, Thomas du Toit doesn’t crack the matchday 23. The Bath star was sensational all season for the West Country club and impressed against Portugal.

His ability to cover both sides of the scrum means that he effectively vies for two positions but misses on both this time around. An embarrassment of riches and a healthy headache for Erasmus and scrum coach Daan Human.

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