Rassie Erasmus has emphasised the Springboks’ bigger picture after selecting an overhauled match 23 for the world champions’ next Nations Championship assignment.
Erasmus made 10 changes from the starting XV that beat England last week, with only Jesse Kriel, Damian Willemse, Paul de Villiers, Ruan Nortjé and captain Pieter-Steph du Toit retaining their spots to face Scotland at Loftus on Saturday.
Vodacom Bulls duo Handré Pollard and Embrose Papier take charge at halfback.
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The reshuffle also sees Aphelele Fassi pair with Edwill van der Merwe and Canan Moodie in the back three, while Boan Venter, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw form a new-look front row, with Cobus Wiese joining Nortjé in the second row.
Several low-cap players in key positions, like last week’s debutant De Villiers and the returning Papier, will look to the double World Cup-winning experience of Kriel, Pollard, Willemse and Du Toit for guidance.
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Asked during Monday’s press conference if Scotland’s 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba had any bearing on his selections, the Bok coach took the opportunity to highlight the importance of building depth ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“No, Scotland’s win didn’t play a role at all. This team was not picked for specific reasons surrounding Scotland,” Erasmus said.
“It was for us to make sure that when we go into the World Cup next year, we know who can do what, when and how, and under pressure and not under pressure. Some combinations were picked more with that in mind.
“Scotland played really well, I thought. They’re obviously a good team. I mean, they beat England in the Six Nations. So if you just go on those results, then probably this match will be tougher than last weekend.”
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Erasmus pointed to Los Pumas’ lack of preparation as a factor in that result, while acknowledging his own troops face a similar challenge against Scotland given the scale of changes made.
“You could see Argentina, very few of their players play in Argentina and it’s very tough in the first game. They didn’t even have a warm-up game and their coach Felipe Contepomi was a week before that in Port Elizabeth with the Barbarians.
“The southern hemisphere teams normally take a game or two to get some good rhythm and cohesion and for us, if you look at the team, there’s a lot of changes,” he added.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post This Bok team ‘not picked’ to beat Scotland appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Rassie Erasmus has emphasised the Springboks’ bigger picture after selecting an overhauled match 23 for the world champions’ next Nations Championship assignment.
The post This Bok team ‘not picked’ to beat Scotland appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
