The long-term reason why Rassie made late front-row change
INTERVIEW: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus explained why he changed his starting front row moments before taking on France in Round Five of the Nations Championship.
The front row of Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw were set to start against Les Bleus, but moments before kick-off, the Boks announced they would feature off the bench with original replacements Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Thomas du Toit drafted into the run-on side.
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The late changes stepped up and dominated the set-piece to a large extent until the 35th minute before being substituted for the original starting front row.
Erasmus explained the change was merely due to uncertainty during the week and, to an extent, an experimental one with a long-term goal in mind.
“Well, [Antoine] didn’t play No. 10; he played No. 9. Their starting hooker [Julien Marchand] didn’t start; instead, it was Peato Mauvaka who was named on the bench,” Erasmus told reporters on Friday in the post-match press conference.
“We were mulling around during the week what we should do. We announced the team on Monday and on Thursday we felt that we should do it the other way around.
“I really thought Jan-Hendrik [Wessels], [Gerhard Steenekamp] and Thomas [du Toit] really played well.
“It was actually tough to put the replacement front row on because those guys were doing the business.”
Continues below…
There’s a lot to ponder on for the Bok coaching staff…
Link to Rassie Erasmus’ reaction following defeat to France: https://t.co/P4nMEp7tiO
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The long-term goal for the change
Erasmus elaborated what his long-term thinking was behind the tactical change.
“We wanted to see going forward how they go under pressure. I think Jan-Hendrik is really growing into the hooker role; he’s doing really well,” Erasmus added.
“It was late in the week until we made that call, and even up to the captain’s practice yesterday [Thursday] we weren’t quite sure.
“But it was good to see him start under pressure against a good scrum and line-out, and he didn’t miss a single line-out throw.
“It was more a decision made with an eye on the 2027 World Cup, how that combination went, but as we sit here, it didn’t work, because we lost.”
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