Erasmus Explains Why Etzebeth, Pollard and Kriel Missed Springboks Squad for All Blacks Tie
- Rassie Erasmus has given a breakdown on how he selected the Springboks squad to face the All Blacks of New Zealand in the second round of the Rugby Championship
- The South African rugby coach left out veterans like Jesse Kriel, Eben Etzebeth, Handre Pollard, and Damian de Allende from his squad
- Rassie's decision to drop some of the old guards from his team to face the All Blacks this weekend garnered different reactions from netizens
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has explained his decision to leave out some of the experienced players from the squad that featured against the All Blacks of New Zealand in the first round of their Rugby Championship clash for the second round.
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The South African rugby team suffered a 24-17 defeat to the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday, September 6, 2025, their second defeat in the competition.
Erasmus named Jesse Kriel as the captain despite Siya Kolisi's presence in the squad for the first round of the game, but the 31-year-old, alongside Eben Etzebeth, Handre Pollard, and Damian de Allende, were dropped from the Boks' squad to feature in the second round in Wellington this coming weekend, Saturday, September 13, 2025.
The Boks' chances of retaining the Rugby Championship title look more difficult after their defeat in Auckland, as they need a win in Wellington to get back on track.
Erasmus on dropping Springboks' old guards
Erasmus admitted that both the players and the coaching staff, himself included, fell short in their performance last weekend against the All Blacks.
Reflecting on the positives, he compared the finish of the match to their 2023 Rugby World Cup pool clash with Ireland, a game where the Springboks fought hard to get back into contention but ultimately couldn’t find the decisive score in a narrow 13-8 defeat.
He highlighted the impact of the replacements in Auckland, saying their energy and determination stood out.
“We were already 14-0 down inside the first quarter, yet they only managed 10 more points after that. Of course, it didn’t change the result; a loss is still a loss, but it did show the kind of spark we need.”
According to Erasmus, that second-half fight may have influenced his thinking in dropping old guards like Kriel, Etzebeth, Pollard, and de Allende, opening the door for fresh, younger players who could bring the same intensity in future matches.
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“If we can win this one, we’re right back in the Rugby Championship race,” he added.
Reactions as Erasmus drops veterans
Travis said:
"Wow, wow, wow. Dropping Etzebeth is a shocker but even bigger is dropping Pollard. Both legends not even on the bench. Wow"
Jacques wrote:
"@RassieRugby To be fair rassie made the right call. There are a few veterans just not performing at the moment. Team looks on point. I might would have liked Pollard on the bench as a cover option but the players need to make the step up. Looking forward to it."
Kevin Rademeyer shared:
"Interesting choices. A bit of a gamble but I think its time to see what the youngsters can do under immense pressure. It's been 2 years since the start of the @rugbyworldcup and it's a challenging time."
Ben Smith reacted:
"Big calls.... what do you have to lose, except another game? My concern is that now RSA put a Hooker on the wing, which is way too close to the crowd. Drunk kiwis can't behave if a Hooker is within reach."
SiveXaluva commented:
"Happy about the absence of Pollard, Willie, Eben… Du Toit should have joined them… I’m worried about centre pairing especially on defence and I think De Allende should have been included. Happy about the bench and inclusion of Snyman."
abe_kong84 added:
"Is it because Rassie think they will lose anyway so might as well give youngsters the chance to play in a big game to get much needed experience when it really matters. I suppose it’s a good thing but also need big players for big games, sure it’s not a knockout match of a RWC.."
Erasmus explains Boks' defeat to All Blacks
Briefly News also reported that Erasmus explained why the Springboks lost to the All Blacks in Auckland.
The South African rugby tactician was also disappointed with the performance of the Boks players and the individual errors that cost them the match.
Source: Briefly News
