Why Rassie’s rookie roulette is a necessary gamble

OPINION: Rassie Erasmus is well placed to give a host of fringe players game time across the Springboks’ coming matches against the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia.

The buzz around the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, as well as France’s tour of New Zealand, will dominate international sports pages, websites and social media channels over the next six weeks.

That said, the four matches staged in South Africa during this period should be intriguing, albeit for different reasons.

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Erasmus has selected a squad of 45 players for the games against the Barbarians, Italy (two Tests) and Georgia, and has promised to experiment with the Rugby Championship and ultimately the 2027 World Cup in mind.

Seven rookies could represent South Africa for the first time, while others could add to their modest Test cap tallies.

Erasmus wants these leading players to have 15 caps or more by the time the Boks travel to the World Cup in two years’ time. In setting that goal, the head coach has signalled his intent to field more fringe players in the July Tests – and in the more challenging Rugby Championship fixtures to come.

Development has been a priority for Erasmus since his first season at the Boks. As many as 19 players were blooded in 2018, and a further four in 2019.

In the next World Cup cycle, six players made their Test debuts in 2021, 10 in 2022, and two in 2023.

Erasmus and former head coach Jacques Nienaber kept their promise to develop new players – and as these numbers show, they were more willing to experiment in the initial part of the cycle than in the months leading up to the global tournament.

The trend has continued into the present four-year block.

Erasmus used 50 players throughout the 2024 season, handing 12 players Test debuts.

It’s interesting to note where and how these rookies were deployed.

Jordan Hendrikse and Edwill van der Merwe were backed to start in the season-opener against Wales at Twickenham – a fixture that clashed with the United Rugby Championship Final, and precluded several South African and overseas-based players. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ben-Jason Dixon made their respective debuts from the bench.

Apart from a notable exception like Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Erasmus backed the bulk of his established core for the two-match series against Ireland.

Against Portugal, Phepsi Buthelezi, Johan Grobbelaar, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels started for the first time, while André-Hugo Venter, Ruan Venter and Morné van den Berg got their first taste of international rugby from the bench.

By the end of that four-match series, Erasmus had fielded 11 of the 12 players who would make their Test debuts in 2024.

Cameron Hanekom made his debut in the final match of the season against Wales, but was initially included in the squad for the July Tests, and would have featured if not for a serious injury.

The mid-year Tests are the starting point for Springbok experimentation.

This year, the selection debate will be especially interesting, as Erasmus looks to blood seven more players and give his second- and third-choice stars more game time, while ensuring his senior statesmen receive enough match minutes before heading into more challenging battles with Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.

Ethan Hooker, Cobus Wiese, Vincent Tshituka, Neethling Fouché, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Marnus van der Merwe and Boan Venter are the uncapped players in the 45-man group.

It will be far easier to accommodate the four front-rankers on that seven-man list, given that the Boks are without so many established props due to injuries.

Getting the other three onto the park will require some careful management, with regards to the balance of the line-up for all four matches.

Erasmus mentioned the 15-cap goal at a press conference last week, and it’s interesting to note how many players in the current squad fall into that category.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu (eight), Edwill van der Merwe (one) and Wessels (three) all made their debuts last season.

Canan Moodie (12) and Jean Kleyn (seven) won the 2023 World Cup with the Boks, but are yet to receive an extended run.

Evan Roos (seven), Ruan Nortje (six) and Salmaan Moerat (10) have been in and out of the squad since 2022, while Jean-Luc du Preez (14) has been in the system since 2016.

There are a few more just outside the 15-cap bracket that deserve more game time.

Wilco Louw (16) and Thomas du Toit (23) have bided their time behind front row legends such as Frans Malherbe, Steven Kitshoff and Trevor Nyakane, and with all three as well as Gerhard Steenekamp unavailable at present – Kitshoff has been forced to retire – Louw and Du Toit may finally get their chance to shine.

On the other end of the spectrum, Erasmus needs to bring his tried and test players up to speed.

Pieter-Steph du Toit missed the entire Japanese club season due to a serious shoulder injury, and is desperate for game time.

Jasper Wiese is another who recently returned from injury, while Eben Etzebeth is short of a gallop, having playing so few matches for the Sharks in recent months.

Lood de Jager’s comeback will be significant for the Boks, and bolster their line-out.

De Jager as well as Damian Willemse haven’t featured for South Africa since the 2023 season – and Willemse will have to wait until the Italy series for his first opportunity, as he’s currently serving a suspension for an offence in the URC.

Erasmus raised some eyebrows when he recalled the veteran Faf de Klerk, and opted to omit scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse from the squad entirely.

De Klerk hasn’t played for the Boks since the second Test against Ireland last July.

Does the 33-year-old still have what it takes to contribute against New Zealand, France and Ireland? We may find out later this year, but at this stage, he needs to get some Test minutes under his belt, alongside some of the squad regulars.

Erasmus will unveil his first matchday squad for the season at the team hotel on Tuesday.

There’s been plenty of speculation about who will feature against the Barbarians.

It’s fair to expect a good balance between rookies, fringe players and senior stars in need of game time.

There will be further experimentation in the coming Tests, with a similar balance between youth and experience.

Results matter, especially in a season where the final World Rugby rankings will influence the draw for the 2027 World Cup.

But in a four-week period where the Boks are expected to win all of their matches by comfortable margins, squad development should be a priority.

@rugby365com