AUDIO: Is Rassie Erasmus up to his old tricks again?
AUDIO: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus might spring a surprise this week, as only he can, by making a late change to the team selection later in the week.
South Africa’s coach announced his team on Monday that will host the Wallabies at Ellis Park on Saturday, breaking with the norm of the Springbok team normally announced on a Tuesday ahead of a Test match.
He also went with a much more reserved format for his replacements, opting to go for a 5-3 bench.
But Erasmus, in explaining his team selection, revealed that a late change might be on the cards, depending on the bench composition Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will go for.
This could see Springbok lock RG Snyman being included on the bench at the expense of a back.
The coach did not indicate which player will then lose his spot on the bench, but in all likelihood, it could be Canan Moodie, who is the back-up for Jesse Kriel.
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However, Damian Willemse could also cover No. 13 if needed, although he is mainly the replacement flyhalf behind Manie Libbok.
“We are not sure what Australia will do. If they go with a 6-2 split on the bench, we might bring in RG [Snyman] on Thursday to counter that,” the Bok coach revealed.
“At this stage, we are going with a 5-3 [split] and we are 99% sure of that, but if they go 6-2, we might need RG [Snyman] and include him on the bench.
“But at altitude, a guy like Sous [Franco Mostert] is very valuable; he has an engine and runs like Forest Gump, covering the length and breadth of the field,” Erasmus stated.
Talking about the Rugby Championship and wanting desperately to win it again, Erasmus was frank about the small challenges within the team.
“We have never won the Rugby Championship or the Tri-Nations [as it was called in the past] back-to-back, we have never. That is how difficult it is.
“We set ourselves mini targets like that.
“We have also never in history beaten Australia five times in a row, and they have never won at Ellis Park, so that will be their aim.”
The fact is that the Wallabies have played 11 Tests at the Johannesburg venue for just one win, and that was back in 1963.
“In reality, they [Australia] beat the British and Irish Lions in the last game. We would love to win the Rugby Championship; it will be fantastic, but we must first beat Australia.
“We have never won it back-to-back, but if we say it out loud, people say we are arrogant [windgat],” said Erasmus.
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