AUDIO: Rassie explains building Bok depth chart
LISTEN as Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus explains the new faces in the side and his selection method for the Incoming Series against Italy and Georgia.
Since the 2023 World Cup Final, Erasmus capped 12 new players during the 2024 season, in which the World Champions won 11 Tests from 13.
So far this season, Vincent Tshituka made his official Test debut against Italy last week at Loftus Versfeld.
This weekend in the second Test against the Azzurri, three more players will potentially make their Test debuts off the bench in Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cobus Wiese and Ethan Hooker, bringing the post 2023 debutant number to 16.
Erasmus made 11 changes for this weekend’s upcoming clash and explained his selection method across the three July Tests.
The article continues below…
“Regarding the Bok debutants this season, for those guys getting experience alongside a guy like Krappies [Morne van den Berg], who played two matches in a row, we are building nicely to get three players in each position, building towards the 2027 World Cup.
“It’s nice. Gaza [Damian Willemse] and [Aphelele] Fassi will be in the mix next week, with Willie [le Roux] getting a chance this week. It’s exciting.
“So, guys mustn’t think they’re being left out.
“Mapimps [Makazole Mapimpi] is involved this week and next week, and then everyone would’ve played two games. That’s the ideal.
“The only way players learn is by playing Test matches, not just through training.”
ADVERTISEMENT
View this post on Instagram