The Pieter-Steph du Toit news that Rassie Erasmus admits will make Springboks selection ‘interesting’
Springboks flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit alongside head coach Rassie Erasmus.
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has given a positive injury update on Pieter-Steph du Toit ahead of the Rugby Championship.
There were concerns over the flanker after he picked up an issue in the narrow 25-24 defeat to Ireland during the recent Test series.
However, Du Toit has recovered from a knee problem to take his place in the squad and is in line to face the Wallabies in the opening match of the tournament next weekend.
If fully fit, the 31-year-old is pretty much guaranteed to start but, according to Erasmus, that throws up some selection dilemmas about the make-up of his bench.
5-3, 6-2 or 7-1
The Boks have become renowned for their forward-heavy replacements, often having a 6-2 split and, on occasions, going for a 7-1, but there is a thought that they could revert to the more traditional 5-3.
“Pieter-Steph will be ready next week to play and that again makes your team selection interesting because you might not have to put another lock on the bench or you might, if you go 6-2, put another lock on the bench, or two loose forwards on the bench,” Erasmus told reporters.
“But that must be a fit Pieter-Steph. It was a little bit of a knee bruise, which he is over now, but he’s also got a little bit of flu, so he couldn’t train fully over the last two days.”
There was also rumour that Du Toit could line up at number eight, especially after Evan Roos was left out of the squad, but Erasmus has quashed that idea.
“I think we’ve got two full loose forward teams. We’ve got Marco (van Staden) and Siya (Kolisi) who can play six, we’ve got Pieter-Steph and Ben-Jason (Dixon) who can play seven and we’ve got Kwagga (Smith) and Elrigh (Louw) who can play eight. Elrigh can also play seven.
“I don’t think Pieter-Steph will be utilised at eight.”
Other injuries
The Springboks have a number of players currently on the sidelines, which forced them into some changes ahead of the Rugby Championship.
Erasmus gave an update on a few of those individuals, including Faf de Klerk, Canan Moodie and Damian Willemse.
“Apart from that, there’s not really one guy carrying injuries within the 33. And then guys who are probably coming back… Faf has a groin injury, which won’t take too long but we left him at home,” he added.
“Jaden (Hendrikse) is coming back. Also, Canan Moodie is ready to play next week and Damian Willemse I guess in another three weeks.”
South Africa’s head coach also confirmed that Malcolm Marx is “90 per cent” ready to face the Wallabies, despite breaking his leg against Ireland following a nasty croc roll.
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