Why Rassie's 'depth chart' impresses the All Blacks
SPOTLIGHT: If an All Black coach praises you sincerely, you must be doing something right.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus received high praise from the most unlikely source, the All Black camp.
World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry, a former head coach and now a selector on Dave Rennie’s coaching panel, dismissed the notion outright that Erasmus is ‘cheapening’ the Bok jersey with his constant rotation of players.
“They are the best team in the World, back-to-back World Cup and Rugby Championship champions,” the 80-year-old and 2011 World Cup winner shot back at the Devlin Sport Podcast host, Martin Devlin, who suggested New Zealand had won ‘three’ of the four halves they played against South Africa last year.
He got the host to admit that the Boks are the best in the world by virtue of their World Cup titles.
“They are growing their players,” Henry said, as Devlin doubled down by suggesting the All Blacks are doing the same.
“I don’t think Erasmus is handing out Springbok jerseys willy nilly,” Henry hit back.
“That is an arrogant statement,” he told his host, adding: “We [New Zealand] are arrogant about our position in World Rugby.
“We need to change Martin. If we don’t change, we will not get better.”
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That is exactly what Erasmus has been doing since he took over in 2018, constantly evolving the Bok game.
The Bok coach made it clear that he will continue to ‘rotate’ and ‘test’ players for the rest of this year, as he builds towards the 2027 World Cup Down Under.
“When we get to the World Cup [in Australia next year], we want to make sure we have looked at everybody,” Erasmus told a virtual media briefing.
He made it clear that even players from outside the current squad can get a look-in as the Nations Championship progresses.
“We have plans for the second game [against Scotland] and the third game [against Wales],” Erasmus said.
“We are looking to give players chances in different games.
“There are another 15 guys [outside the Nations Championship squad] that are either injured or we are resting them.
“We may think they are more suited to play against Scotland, Argentina [a friendly] or New Zealand [in the Greatest Rivalry series].
“We are not just going to use players from this [46-man] squad.”
Following the England game, at Ellis Park on July 4, he may rest a few players or send some back to their franchises, drafting in a few more.
“After the Nations Championship, there are massive matches against Argentina and New Zealand, where the squad will definitely be rotated,” he added.
The absence of names such as double World Cup winners Faf de Klerk, Vincent Koch and the injured Bongi Mbonambi from Erasmus’ 46-man Nations Championship squad is already an indication of the depth he has created.
Other injured Boks on the fringes include the Hendrikse brothers Jaden and Jordan, as well as injured players like Ethan Hooker, Sebastian de Klerk, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Trevor Nyakane extends that depth chart even further.
Injured Ulster-based loose forward Juarno Augustus, who has been on the Bok fringes for the last few years, is a prime example of a player well back in the Bok pecking order.
Those ahead of him include Jasper Wiese (a regular starter), Evan Roos, Cameron Hanekom (all in the squad for the Nations Championship) and Elrigh Louw.
“We track all players from all competitions, when we do our depth chart,” the Bok coach said, adding: “We monitor five six players [deep] in each position.”
Another overseas-based player who is on the fringes and involved in virtual alignment camps this year is monstrous Northampton Saints lock JJ van der Mescht, who is watching from the sidelines as an Under-20 World Cup winner and Baby Bok skipper, made the Nations Championship squad as a utility player.
Ahead of Van der Mescht in the second row ranks are Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Ruan Nortje and Ruben van Heerden.
Utility forwards Pieter-Steph du Toit, Franco Mostert and Cobus Wiese are also ahead of the Saints behemoth.
When they return from their long-term injuries, RG Snyman and Salmaan Moerat will also jump the queue.
That five-to-six-deep Test-level approach applies to all positions in Erasmus’ Bok squad.
@JanDKrugby
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