Rassie Erasmus has weighed in on the debate around who France head coach Fabien Galthié selects at flyhalf against the Springboks this week.
Speaking during his own team announcement conference on Monday, Erasmus suggested Les Bleus might prefer a more physical playmaker to start at 10, with Galthié selecting a more mobile team to move the Boks around on Friday night in Paris.
Galthié has a crisis at flyhalf – Romain Ntamack injured his shoulder during Saturday’s 54-17 win over Fiji, leaving Les Bleus short of options at pivot ahead of the Nations Championship encounter.
Back-up for skipper Antoine Dupont, scrumhalf Maxime Lucu has previously been thrust into the 10 role for both his club, Bordeaux Bègles, and the national team.
But, Erasmus anticipated Galthié selecting 21-year-old centre Kalvin Gourgues at flyhalf, with Lucu coming off the bench at the Stade de France.
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“I think the team they’re going to pick this weekend is going to be a lighter, running side, moving the ball around a little bit,” the Bok boss said.
“They will always have a good kicking game. And with Dupont there, I’m not sure who’s going to play 10. I think it’s going to be Lucu or the 13.
“I’ve just got a feeling they’re going to play a more physical game. I’m not sure if they play Lucu, they will get the physicality that they want.
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Erasmus added: “We’ve lost a couple of 10s in the past, and that does disrupt. At one stage we put Faf [de Klerk] at 10. We played with Quan Horn at 10. One game, we played with [André] Esterhuizen at 10.
“I think they’ll probably go with a more physical 10, and then put Lucu on a little bit later … when it’s more open.
“I’m 100% sure that in the beginning it’s going to be straightforward up and down from both teams, with both trying to get dominance.”
Photo: Harry Murphy/Getty Images
The post Bok boss picks the French 10 appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Rassie Erasmus has weighed in on the debate around who France head coach Fabien Galthié selects at flyhalf against the Springboks this week.
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