Is Rassie ready to unleash his 'A-team'?
The Springbok Communiqué was perhaps more uncloaking than the author(s) in the national team’s media department intended.
“Coach Rassie Erasmus adopted a ‘strategic approach’ for the next leg of the international season by naming a group of 43 players.…”
The team will gather in Johannesburg on Sunday to begin their preparations for the Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday, August 8, and the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand, starting in August.
Five players were released to their franchises to prepare for matches against the All Blacks.
Prop Ntuthuko Mchunu, No.8 Evan Roos, hooker Andre-Hugo Venter (all Stormers), wing Jaco Williams (Sharks) and scrumhalf Embrose Papier (Bulls) were ‘dispatched’ to their franchises.
Lock Ruben van Heerden (heading to Montpellier) was placed on standby.
Ten Springboks returning from injury gave the squad a more ‘A-team’ look and feel.
Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager (both locks), Franco Mostert (utility forward), Siya Kolisi (loose forward), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Handre Pollard (both flyhalves), Ethan Hooker, Canan Moodie (both utility backs), Andre Esterhuizen (flank and centre), and Morné van den Berg (scrumhalf) are all set to get game time in Buenos Aires.
It may well mean Erasmus could name a starting XV that closely resembles his ‘preferred’ selection.
Yes, it will be a vastly different side to that which whitewashed Wales 43-0 last week, or the teams that eased past England and Scotland before that.
But it would also not be an exact match of either the sides that overpowered England and Scotland.
The 10 players who returned from injury will need game time ahead of the All Black Tests.
Again, the coach was perhaps more revealing that most people give him credit for.
“We put a lot of thought into how we will manage the entire group of players to give everyone a chance to stake a claim for places in the squad for the RGR series,” he said, adding: “We decided that splitting the squad into two groups will be best for the Springbok team and the players to play their way into the squad.”
So, given the information put out through the release, and the progress individual have made on their return from injuries, Los Pumas will be up against a very formidable side.
My selection for the Buenos Aires face-off: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Carlu Sadie, 18 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Andre Esterhuizen, 23 Morné van den Berg.
* How would your selection differ?
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
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