Rassie refuses to rule out late Springbok changes again

On the eve of last Saturday’s Test between the Springboks and All Blacks, Rassie Erasmus opted to make a complete switch in the front row as those initially named in the starting XV made way for the trio on the bench.

Although some critics suggested these were acts of unnecessary gamesmanship, the Springbok coach explained afterwards that it had been a decision influenced by weather conditions after the forecast for a wet-weather match ultimately abated as kick off drew closer.

A similar scenario could now be playing out this week as there is a prediction for heavy downpours in Johannesburg on Friday. Although there is no rain currently forecast for game-day, it will need to be assessed just how wet the field might be underfoot.

“We’ve had the most beautiful weather for 13 weeks in Johannesburg and now there is a chance for rain. And that does change the game and approach,” Erasmus said at the start of this week. “It makes handling tougher, it makes box kicking tougher, it makes players who want to strip the ball more effective and scrummaging is a little bit more difficult with a lighter pack.

“I hope it doesn’t rain on Saturday. “If it’s clear and dry this will be the team that’s starting, but if it rains we might make a change or two.

“The team sheet is only officially signed an hour before the game, so you can swap the entire team if you want to,” Erasmus added.

Rassie Erasmus sticking with Springbok continuity for now

In the Springbok team named on Monday, the changes to the match-23 saw the front row of Ox Nche, Wilco Louw (both props) and Malcolm Marx (hooker) return to the starting team, with Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit and Deon Fourie switching to the replacements bench.

Of the decision to switch the Springbok front rows and rever to the original starting front row he announced last week, Rassie Erasmus said: “We decided to change our front rows last week due to the weather conditions, and Johannesburg weather is different to Cape Town, so we thought this would be the best decision for us this weekend.

“Gerhard, Thomas, and Deon have played massive games for us, and at the same time know how to deal with pressure, and that is exactly what we need against a never-say-die team like the All Blacks, who play for the full 80-minutes.”

“It was always our plan to have a little more continuity in player combinations for this series and we thought that the players who did the job for us last week really showed composure and did well to stick to the plan and what we wanted to achieve last week,” Erasmus added.

How the Boks should line up this week

This Saturday’s match at FNB Stadium kicks off at 17:10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

SPRINGBOKS – 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nché.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 André Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok.