Returning warriors will sharpen Bok edge

OPINION: Eben Etzebeth and Damian de Allende look set to boost the Springboks’ quest for a bonus-point victory in the penultimate round of the Rugby Championship.

Those who were expecting another experimental line-up ahead of the do-or-die Test against Argentina at Kings Park must be disappointed.

Rassie Erasmus has picked a well-balanced team that boasts youthful energy as well as experience across the respective departments.

Ultimately, it’s a 23-man combination with the potential to claim five log points and strengthen South Africa’s bid for the 2025 Rugby Championship title.

As per the tournament rules, the Boks have to score three tries more than Argentina to claim the bonus point.

If the Pumas cross the tryline at any stage on Saturday, the leaders within the Boks set-up will need to recalibrate the attack and defence and keep their overall objective in mind.

At a glance, it’s a vastly experienced team stacked with players who have led the side before.

Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Etzebeth have captained the Boks over the years, while Thomas du Toit led the South Africa ‘A’ side on the tour to Europe in 2022. De Allende is often name-checked by Erasmus as one of the squad’s vice-captains.

The return of Etzebeth and De Allende will also bolster South Africa’s physical approach – and amplify their overall impact on attack.

The Boks will need to control the gainline and breakdowns to overcome the Pumas, and on current form, you’d expect them to go after the visitors at the scrum.

All that said, there’s nothing overly careful or conservative about Erasmus’ selections for the match in Durban.

Youngsters like Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie have been rewarded for their outstanding performances against the All Blacks in Wellington with another start – at wing and outside centre respectively.

Both should amplify the Boks’ kick-chase strategy and provide the team with X-factor in open play.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been given another run at No.10, after leaving the field early at the Cake Tin. Not for the first time, Erasmus has picked the talented youngster alongside the veteran Cobus Reinach, and the 10-12 combination of Feinberg-Mngomezulu and De Allende is also hugely promising.

With Grant Williams recovering from an injury, Morné van den Berg gets his first opportunity with the Boks since the Test series against Italy in July.

The bench includes two other “junior players” in hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels and loosehead prop Boan Venter.

The more experienced reserves in Wilco Louw, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Manie Libbok and André Esterhuizen should provide the Boks with various tactical options in the second stanza.

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The Boks have the players to attack via the set-piece or through a wider approach.

While it seems like Erasmus has picked a five-three split on the bench, it’s possible that Esterhuizen may switch to flank, depending on the game situation.

Could this Bok 23 get any stronger, when one considers who else is currently available?

Depending on the severity of his injury, Williams may come back into the mix for next week’s big clash in London.

It will be interesting to see whether Handré Pollard and Jesse Kriel feature at Twickenham, or whether Erasmus sticks with the same line-up.

While the Bok coach has chopped and changed a great deal over the past two seasons, he may favour continuity over the next couple of games, given the stakes.

And if the Boks realise their bonus-ambition this week, and possibly finish the round at the top of the standings, they will go into the final match as favourites for the title.

Apart from the need to manage fatigue as well as a few injuries, there may be little reason to change tack ahead of the championship game.

All that said, it’s worth noting how unpredictable the Rugby Championship has been this season, and how inconsistent all four teams have been from one week to the next.

The Boks made a statement in Wellington in Round Four – but now they need to back it up with a performance and result that puts them in the best possible position to win the tournament.