Rassie's seven-word selection bombshell

OPINION: It was a seven-word sentence that may have escaped the bulk of the fourth estate.

However, it said a lot more than the average ‘pundit’ or fan would have realised.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus made just one change to his starting XV for Saturday’s Rugby Championship decider against Argentina at Twickenham in London.

Ox Nche returns from an injury niggle to start at loosehead prop.

There were three more changes to the replacements, as Grant Williams, Jesse Kriel and Bongi Mbonambi come into the matchday 23.

The reaction had some ‘experts’ salivating at the prospects of some double World Cup winners being discarded to the scrap heap.

However, there was a caveat.

Erasmus was pretty clear that he would have made more adjustments, were it not for the additional travel from Durban to London that limited their preparation window.

“This is definitely not our strongest team,” Erasmus said.

The realisation that Erasmus can select an even stronger team than the one that put 40 points on the All Blacks and 60 on Argentina, had me thinking.

What are the options?

That is why I decided to partake in our favourite pastime, play selector.

I started with Saturday’s team and look at where you can improve (strengthen) the starting XV!

Jan de Koning‘s alternative Springbok team

15 Damian Willemse
There is Willie le Roux, who so many want to retire, and the injured Aphelele Fassi. There is also Quan Horn. Right now, Willemse is my first choice.

14 Cheslin Kolbe
Edwill van der Merwe is fast regaining his best form with the Sharks, but that would require moving Kolbe to the left wing, or perhaps starting Van der Merwe on the left wing. Kolbe is the best, and most of the #BIG games he plays with a No.14 on his back.

13 Canan Moodie
Jesse Kriel has established himself as South Africa’s premier outside centre, and there is Lukhanyo Am. Moodie is making a statement in the midfield, but for a World Cup Final, I will have Kriel.

12 Damian de Allende
Damian Willemse was impressive in the No.12 jersey against the All Blacks, but I want him at fullback. There is André Esterhuizen, but De Allende is my choice.

11 Ethan Hooker
Yes, Hooker is busy establishing himself as a genuine option and certainly won’t let the team down. There is also still Makazole Mapimpi, but I would start with Edwill van der Merwe.

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
The hottest property in the game at present. He certainly deserves the praise and hype. Would he get the same time, space and freedom that Argentina afforded him, or will New Zealand be so ‘lacklustre’ in the World Cup Final? Manie Libbok has also come along by leaps and bounds. If the World Cup Final were tomorrow, I would start with Handré Pollard. Two years from now, it may well be a different story.

9 Cobus Reinach
This is the hottest contested position on the team. Morné van den Berg is racing up the pecking order, Grant Williams gives you genuine pace and an additional option on the wing, while Faf de Klerk has fallen out of favour. I may well start with Grant Williams.

8 Jasper Wiese
The one position where the depth is thin and the queue is short. Kwagga Smith gets the occasional start, Siya Kolisi was tried as an eighthman, Cobus Wiese (Jasper’s brother) had a go, and then there is fan-favourite Evan Roos. None of them is as effective as Jasper Wiese.

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
No doubt he is the best of an impressive bunch that include Vincent Tshituka, Franco Mostert (who is more effective as a lock) and even André Esterhuizen was tried on the flank. At a push, Marco van Staden can be used, but he is better suited to an openside role.

6 Siya Kolisi (captain)
Always the first player on a Springbok team sheet, when he is fit. Kwagga Smith often replaces him in the second half, and Marco van Staden has started on occasion when Kolisi was not available or at No.8.

5 Ruan Nortje
He is busy making the position his own, but Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert will not let the team down either.

4 Eben Etzebeth
He is clearly being managed to extend his stay to the 2027 World Cup. Next in line is RG Snyman. Salmaan Moerat, when he is fit, will be on Erasmus’ shortlist, Cobus Wiese is arguably the best back-up, while De Jager has partnered Nortje in the second row.

3 Thomas du Toit
He has had a good run this year and has not let the team down. Wilco Louw, if he can improve his workrate, is a genuine option to start. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, if he is cleared at his doping hearing in December, adds some real depth. Vincent Koch is floating in the background, but in desperate need of game time to improve his form. I will start with Louw and bring Du Toit off the bench.

2 Malcolm Marx
Badly out of form and only a shadow of the player he was before his knee injury at the World Cup. Bongi Mbonambi is also in need of game time to hopefully regain his form. Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Marco van Staden may be the hybrid utilities, but Marnus van der Merwe is moving up the pecking order and, on form, probably not a bad option. I’ll start Mbonambi and play Marx off the bench. Hopefully, they will regain some form soon.

1 Ox Nche
There is a good reason why he is the premier loosehead prop in the world. Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Boan Venter are solid back-up players, while Thomas du Toit has started at loosehead prop.

@rugby365com