Rassie Erasmus Makes 13 Springbok Changes for Australia as Expert Explains Bold Selection
- Rassie Erasmus has made 13 changes to the Springbok starting XV for Sunday's Test against Australia in Perth
- The major reshuffle includes the return of Handre Pollard, while Erasmus also looks set to test the versatility and depth of his squad
- Briefly News spoke exclusively to rugby analyst Thabang Mokoena, who explained what Erasmus could be looking to achieve with the dramatic changes
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Rassie Erasmus has made 13 changes to the Springbok starting XV for Sunday's Test against Australia in Perth.
On paper, the number is striking. Only Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker retain their starting positions from the team that defeated New Zealand 43-28 to complete a 3-1 series victory.
But rugby analyst Thabang Mokoena believes the number alone does not tell the full story. Briefly News spoke exclusively to Mokoena about Erasmus' selection.
“The number 13 makes the selection look more dramatic than it actually is. If you look at the players coming into the team, there is still a lot of Test experience there. I see this more as Rassie managing his squad, responding to Australia's style and giving himself more information about the players he has available.”
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Rassie Erasmus’ 13 Springbok Changes for Australia
Erasmus has explained that Australia offer a different challenge from New Zealand and that South Africa need combinations capable of dealing with the Wallabies' defensive structure and ability to keep the ball alive.
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There is also a workload-management element. Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende were among the experienced players rested after a demanding run of Tests, while the reshuffle creates opportunities for players who had limited involvement against New Zealand.
Mokoena believes that makes the selection less about weakening the team and more about testing the depth of the squad.
“You have to look at who is coming in, not just who is going out. South Africa still have a lot of experienced players in this team and on the bench. Rassie is trying to find out which combinations can function at Test level when some of his regular starters aren't there.”
Handre Pollard Return and Springbok Squad Depth Explained
The return of Handre Pollard is another major storyline. The double Rugby World Cup winner returns at fly-half after missing the recent New Zealand series, while Herschel Jantjies starts at scrum-half.
For Mokoena, Pollard's involvement could be particularly important because of the control he brings to the Springbok game.
“Pollard's return is significant because he gives you that experience of managing a Test match. He doesn't necessarily have to produce something spectacular. His value can be in controlling territory, understanding when to slow the game down and making the right decisions when the pressure is high.”
There is also a tactical experimentation element. Erasmus has selected a mobile group and has suggested that some forwards could be used in unfamiliar positions during the match. Reuters reported that Malcolm Marx could potentially be used on the flank, while players such as Marco van Staden and Jan-Hendrik Wessels offer additional positional flexibility.
Mokoena believes that experimentation makes sense within the wider Springbok philosophy, provided it does not undermine the team's core structures.
“The versatility is interesting because South Africa want players who can solve problems during a match. But there is a line. You don't want experimentation to become confusion. The players still need to know what the team's non-negotiables are.”
Australia's form also means Erasmus cannot treat the Test as an extended training session. The Wallabies have won four of their last five Tests, according to Erasmus, while new coach Les Kiss has overseen a side that South Africa expect to challenge them through structure and ball retention.
That gives Sunday's match two purposes for the Springboks: competing for the result while learning more about their squad.
“I don't think the changes mean South Africa are taking Australia lightly. In fact, it is almost the opposite. Rassie knows Australia will test them differently, so he wants to see which players and combinations can handle that challenge.”
And that, according to Mokoena, is ultimately what makes the selection interesting.
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Source: Briefly News
