Springboks: World Cup winner predicts that Rassie Erasmus won’t back controversial tactic for All Blacks Tests

Springboks forward Deon Fourie believes that Rassie Erasmus won’t back the same tactic that saw South Africa defeat the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final.

South Africa and New Zealand clash at Ellis Park in round three of the Rugby Championship, their first meeting since the World Cup final in Paris last year where the Springboks emerged 12-11 victors.

Fourie was on the bench for the final and came onto the pitch just three minutes into the match after an injury to Bongi Mbonambi, with the flanker playing 77 minutes at hooker.

The 37-year-old formed part of the seven forward replacements named on the bench for the final by then-Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber, who picked just one backline player for the fixture.

Deon Fourie predicts a 6-2 split for the Springboks

It was just the third time that the Springboks had used the tactic of selecting a 7-1 bench, which paid dividends in the clash against the All Blacks at Twickenham Stadium before the World Cup, with South Africa claiming a thumping 35-7 victory.

Ex-Scotland head coach Matt Williams was hugely critical of the Springboks’ tactics, claiming that they were ‘abusing the bench’ and that it was ‘against the spirit of the game.’

Springboks accused of ‘abusing rugby traditions’ as Rassie Erasmus ‘discriminates against backs’

Despite the tactic delivering the right result for the Springboks in their last two meetings against the All Blacks, Fourie believes that Erasmus will not make use of it when the sides clash against Ellis Park.

“It (the 7-1 bench) can be considered again but I doubt it will be used in for the Test match at Ellis Park,” Fourie told Rapport.

“It’s going to be a fast Test match on the highveld with good weather, so with a 7-1 bench you are not going to be able to replace many of the backline players who will get tired in such games.”

While the experienced forward believes that Erasmus would not back the controversial tactic, he does think that the Springboks will have a forward-heavy bench.

Rassie Erasmus set for another shock Springboks selection as World Cup stars miss All Blacks clash 

“I think it will be a 6-2 split, especially with Jasper [Wiese] back and hopefully RG too,” he added.

According to reports, Ox Nche will feature from the bench for the Springboks and is likely to be joined by Malcolm Marx, Vincent Koch and Kwagga Smith with Snyman, Wiese and Marco van Staden likely to fill the remaining two forward spots. Grant Williams and Handre Pollard are likely to fill the backline replacement places.

Fourie, who became the oldest Springboks debutant in 2022, is currently on the mend after sustaining a knee injury while on duty for the Stormers. The 37-year-old says that he is aiming to return to action before the end of the year.

“I’m already jogging again, but I probably won’t play again until November,” he said.

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