VIDEO: Bok legend Duane Vermeulen on standby for Wales clash
CARDIFF, WALES: Despite travelling with a reduced squad of just 25 players to Cardiff, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has once again doubled down on his unconventional selection approach, naming a bold 7–1 split on the bench for Saturday’s Test against Wales.
The trimmed squad has forced Erasmus’s hand, but it also sets the stage for a special milestone, with Cobus Reinach poised to earn his 50th cap as an impact player off the bench – mirroring RG Snyman’s landmark moment a week earlier.
On Thursday, at the team announcement press conference, Erasmus also revealed that the Springboks mobi-unit coach, Duane Vermeulen, is on standby, should there be any serious injuries before kick-off.
The Bok coach says his hand was forced when he selected the team to face Wales on Saturday, but in doing so, he is also doing his utmost to support the South African teams in the United Rugby Championship.
“The composition of the team has been forced upon us because we want to help our United Rugby Championship teams get off to a good start.
“We communicated with the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, and Lions on who we can use and who we can’t,” Erasmus explained.
“So we kind of rolled the dice because we really only have 24 players with us. Ntuthuko Mchunu is the 24th player, and Duane Vermeulen is currently the 25th if we get an injury before Saturday.
“We only have two scrumhalves here, and Damian [Willemse] covers flyhalf,” Erasmus told reporters.
The Springbok team arrived in Cardiff on Sunday and eased into the week after four gruelling weeks on tour and grinding out victories in tough games against Italy, France, and Ireland.
“We adjusted our programme for the week, and on Monday only had a walk-through and got more clarity.
“On Tuesday and Wednesday, we had full training days; today [Thursday], we are off, and we train tomorrow [Friday] again.”
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Erasmus said it was unfortunate for a player like Reinach not to start in his 50th game for the Springboks, and explained that the 7-1 split was not a planned manoeuvre on his part.
“It has been half forced on us. And that is why Cobus Reinach is playing in his 50th Test from the bench, because he covers wing and No.9 for us.
“And then a host of players cover other positions as well. On defence, Kwagga [Smith] covers No.9 if we have two injured backs, and on attack, he will play blind wing.
“Ben-Jason Dixon is on stand-by if there are a lot of injuries in the backline.
“So we are expecting a tough Test in Cobus’ 50th game against a Welsh team with fire in their belly, and sometime somewhere their game will come together, and we hope it is not against us.”
Erasmus was asked why the Springboks make time to play games like the one against Wales, which falls outside of the Test window period, and he responded by saying: “I do think there is a place for games outside the Test window.
“This fixture against Wales – many people might say it’s a dead rubber – but it’s a cap for Springbok players who sit on the bus.
“[The whole experience] is something for players to treasure. People might say it’s a bad Wales team and a second-string South Africa team.
“It’s still a Test cap. It’s something you, as a team, go through together, and the players learn a bit more.
“So I think there is a place for games outside the Test window.”
