Rassie's possible team selections after big injury blows
OPINION: For Rassie Erasmus, it’s always been about the bigger picture since he stepped into the hot seat in 2018.
The Springboks currently have a lengthy casualty list of 16 players.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Malcolm Marx are the latest to join their teammates on the sidelines, although Marx doesn’t seem to be long-term and could be available for the international season.
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*Also read: Malcolm Marx concern deepens growing Springbok injury list
Erasmus never shied away from making bold selections.
In his first season, he played an experimental side against Wales in Washington, which saw the debuts of future World Cup winners Makazole Mapimpi, Ox Nche, Kwagga Smith, and Marvin Orie.
Preceding that Test was a three-match series against England, where more future Champions in Sbu Nkosi, RG Snyman, Thomas du Toit and Andre Esterhuizen earned their first Test caps.
The same occurred in the third Test against Wales with the series wrapped up in 2022, which the Boks lost due to a late score, but it’s important to note that 19 changes were made to that matchday squad with players such as Kurt-Lee Arendse, Deon Fourie and Grant Williams donning the national jersey for the first time.
Erasmus might field a few newbies against the Barbarians on June 20 before the first Nations Championship Test against England.
The Bok head coach may play his strongest possible side against Steve Borthwick’s men before selecting a few debutants in the following Tests against Scotland and Wales, respectively.
For Erasmus, it will be a case of horses for courses.
England will be a must-win, and a few newbies and fringe players could do the job against Scotland and Wales, which could provide answers for the Bok coach with the Greatest Rivalry Series against the All Blacks starting in August.
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Below are three teams, barring further injuries occurring, Rugby365 thinks Erasmus might select for the first leg of the Nations Championship.
V England: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Ruan Nortjé, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Canan Moodie.
V Scotland: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrich Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Salmaan Moerat, 4 Ruan Nortje, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Andre Hugo Venter, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Jesse Kriel
V Wales: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ben Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Salmaan Moerat, 4 Ruan Nortje, 3 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Damian Willemse, 23 Zekhethelo Siyaya
Do you agree with our selections?
*Let us know in the comments below…
