The Springboks may be missing some of their biggest names, but talk of an injury crisis is wildly overstated, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane says the absence of stars such as Malcolm Marx, Eben Etzebeth, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Pieter-Steph du Toit affects the potency of the squad, but not its ability to field a world-class match 23 against England next month.
“‘The Boks in injury crisis’ was a common theme on social media platforms this week, but there is no crisis,” he writes.
Keohane argues that Erasmus has spent years building depth and combinations capable of surviving injuries. The coach’s rotation policy and willingness to use more than 50 players last season ensured the Springboks remained world No 1 while winning 11 of 13 Tests.
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The key is not simply depth, but familiarity. Erasmus consistently selects players who know each other’s games and fit established combinations, whether in the front row, halfback pairings or the back three.
“No matter the circumstances, Erasmus leans heavily on available combinations that are familiar to each other,” Keohane writes.
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Keohane points to the contrast between the teams that beat Ireland in Dublin and thrashed Wales in Cardiff as proof of the system’s strength. Despite significant personnel changes, the Springboks maintained performance levels because experience, leadership and cohesion remained constant.
For Keohane, the real story is not who is missing, but how many elite internationals are still available. That depth remains South Africa’s greatest advantage.
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
The post Bok depth kills crisis talk appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Springboks may be missing some of their biggest names, but talk of an injury crisis is wildly overstated, writes @mark_keohane
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