VIDEO: Jacques' Bok selection in a 'plastic, perfect' world
OPINION: Springbok Andre Esterhuizen might have done enough in the Test against Australia at Loftus a fortnight ago to get that tick next to his name when the final World Cup squad is revealed on August 8.
In what many described as his best game in his 12 Tests for South Africa, the big centre crossed the advantage line at will while his handling of the ball in passes and grubbers was next level.
He quite frankly mesmerized the Aussies with his bag of tricks.
Since his move to Harlequins, Andre ‘the Giant’ has become one of the top performers in the English Premiership and saw his game evolve from being a battering ram to a centre with vision, delicate hands and even a handy kicking game.
The 29-year-old wing was not part of the team that got demolished by the All Blacks in Auckland last week, nor will he feature in South Africa’s last Test on home soil this year against Argentina at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The question was posed to Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber this week as to why it seems Esterhuizen is getting the cold shoulder.
But he explained that it is merely a case of giving all the players more or less the same amount of game time in order to be fair come selection time.
(Jacques Nienaber on Jessie Kriel and other midfield selections…)
“The thing about Jesse [Kriel] is that unfortunately in Japan he got suspended so he wasn’t up for selection for the first couple of games,” Nienaber revealed.
“So we had to wait for his suspension to be lifted before we could consider him for selection.
“Between Andre and Damain (de Allende), it is just managing the game time. Andre has had a go with Manie before and Damian will have a go with Manie now.
“So it is just about getting different combinations and trying to spread the game load amongst the squad.”
The coach also explained the process of planning around the World Cup squad and what would happen should there be any injuries.
“We are probably 39 fit players currently in this group. The World Cup squad is going to be 33.
“So there are six guys operating here that will not go to the World Cup.
“As we know, if you think back to 2019, within the first game there were two injuries.
“So of the six that is currently training that are fit and won’t make the World Cup squad, probably two of them, a third, is going to the World Cup anyway.
“So it is important for us to make sure that we get everybody if it is possible, and that is in a plastic perfect world, you would like to give everybody experience and game minutes as much as you can.”
