Paul de Villiers has the skills to cover in the backs for the Springboks, but will only be used there in an emergency in Italy on Saturday, according to Rassie Erasmus.
De Villiers is one of six forwards on the bench in a 6-2 split, with Grant Williams and Manie Libbok the only backline replacements.
Asked on Monday ahead of the Nations Championship Test about a possible hybrid role for the five-cap flanker, Erasmus said it was an option, but not one he wants to lean on.
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“Probably. If it’s not forced upon us, we probably won’t force it ourselves,” the Bok boss explained.
Erasmus pointed to the cover already in the group should injuries bite, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu able to slot in at 12 or 15, and Libbok at 10.
“We don’t have to go to that. But I think he’s definitely got the skills and the speed and the feeling for the game,” he added.
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“He’s done it for us at training sessions a lot. I think he can do it as well as Kwagga [Smith] maybe did it for us, even if you get a yellow card or something like that.
“Where he covers for you in that extra role or if you get a yellow card and he has to play nine or something like that.”
“We’re not planning to put him there on purpose,” Erasmus insisted. “It must be like an emergency thing.”
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Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
The post Paulie D can play nine like Kwagga appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Paul de Villiers has the skills to cover in the backs for the Springboks, but will only be used there in an emergency in Italy on Saturday, according to Rassie Erasmus.
The post Paulie D can play nine like Kwagga appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
