Rassie to keep All Blacks guessing

OPINION: The Springboks will head to New Zealand with an unsettled back row and more questions than answers around the No.8 position.

On Monday, the South African Rugby Union released the news about the 36-man Bok squad under the headline: ‘Erasmus sticks with tried and tested players for New Zealand tour’.

The press release went on to list a large contingent of World Cup winners, and it’s fair to say that the Bok coach has indeed selected the most experienced players at his disposal.

The last part of that statement needs unpacking, of course, given the Boks’ lengthy injury list.

Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe won’t make the trip to New Zealand, while the likes of Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom, BJ Dixon, Deon Fourie, Salmaan Moerat, Jean Kleyn, Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane, Gerhard Steenekamp and Ntuthuko Mchunu are currently recovering from long-term injuries.

Asenathi Ntlabakanye won’t be considered until the allegations of a doping violation have been addressed, while Jasper Wiese won’t be available until his suspension expires ahead of the second Test of the series in Wellington.

With all the above in mind, one can understand why Erasmus has selected this particular squad for the two-match mission to New Zealand.

And yet, there are a few important questions to consider, particularly at No.8 and across the back row.

The back row has been a big talking point since the start of the 2025 season, given the number of injuries across the positions.

Erasmus has used 10 different loose forwards over the first six Tests of the season – and as many as five different starting options at No.8, namely Jean-Luc du Preez, Jasper Wiese, Cobus Wiese, Siya Kolisi and Kwagga Smith.

Erasmus won’t have the luxury of fielding his first-choice back row combination of Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese until the second Test of the Freedom Cup series.

Which begs the question, who will start when the Boks head to Auckland for the opener on September 6?

The waters are muddier than ever, now that Erasmus has placed Cobus Wiese – another strong No.8 candidate – on standby.

Evan Roos hasn’t played for the Boks since his cameo from the bench in the second Test against Italy this past July.

While Du Toit was always expected to recover from a concussion ahead of the tour, there were doubts that Kolisi would feature at all after sustaining a knee injury against Australia in Johannesburg.

On Monday, the Boks confirmed that both players are medically fit and available for the first game of the series.

The inclusion of Kolisi in particular could change a great deal.

Du Preez, who was listed to start at No.8 against Australia in Cape Town before withdrawing with illness, will travel to New Zealand, presumably as a frontline No.8 option.

Du Preez has played regularly at No.8 for Sale Sharks, and wore the jersey in the Boks’ season-opener against the Barbarians.

But will the lack of game time against a crack breakdown outfit like Australia count against him, when the coaches are picking the team for the most physical clash of the season at Eden Park?

Will Erasmus favour Du Preez, a strong ball-carrier and line-out option, over more versatile players at No.8 like Kolisi and Smith?

Will Marco van Staden continue to start at openside, and how will that influence other selections across the back row?

Any one of these selections could change the way the Boks play, and could alter the make-up of the Bomb Squad.

As seen last week following Du Preez’s late withdrawal, Smith was moved from the bench to No.8, with utility player André Esterhuizen joining the reserves as a forward option.

The All Blacks won’t know what’s coming – and in that sense, the Bok have an advantage.

On the other hand, the Boks’ buildup to this series has been anything but ideal, in terms of injuries and suspensions.

Erasmus may have a plan to mitigate the situation – but it would be a stretch to suggest that the Boks are travelling to New Zealand with a settled back row.

The management of the front row over the next two games will be another point of interest, given hooker Bongi Mbonambi’s recent struggles at the line-out and around the park.

Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter and Jan-Hendrik Wessels are touring New Zealand for the first time, and Erasmus may want to play these less experienced front row forwards alongside more seasoned options – presumably from the bench.

Another promising rookie in Ethan Hooker has been included in the touring party and may come into consideration if first-choice No.13 Jesse Kriel breaks down.

With Arendse and Van der Merwe ruled out with injuries, Canan Moodie may focus on the wing position rather than No.13.

There will be a lot of debate over the starting No.10 – and it is here where Erasmus has the right type of headache.

After careful management over the past six Tests, Handré Pollard, Manie Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu have all enjoyed opportunities to push for a place in the matchday squad against New Zealand.

Pollard made a statement this past Saturday, when he showed the necessary leadership and goal-kicking accuracy to steer South Africa to a much-needed 30-22 win against Australia.

Pollard may start in Auckland, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu may play an impact role from the bench.

There is a chance, of course, that Erasmus will back Libbok to start as part of a more expansive strategy, with Pollard providing the team with a pragmatic alternative from the bench.

Libbok was at No.10 when the Boks claimed their biggest win against the All Blacks – a 35-7 victory in a World Cup warm-up match staged at Twickenham back in 2023.

@rugby365com