Rassie Erasmus Shrugs Off Injury Setbacks Ahead of Argentina Test
- South Africa’s dominant win over the All Blacks came at a cost, with injuries to key players adding to Rassie Erasmus’s selection headaches
- Despite losing Aphelele Fassi, Lood de Jager and Jean-Luc du Preez, the Bok coach insists his squad has the depth and versatility to cope
- Attention now turns to a fierce Rugby Championship battle with Argentina, who arrive in Durban brimming with belief after toppling Australia
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has praised South Africa’s player depth despite being dealt a series of injury blows.
The Boks emerged from their resounding win over New Zealand in Wellington with several casualties, including Aphelele Fassi, Lood de Jager, and Jean-Luc du Preez.
Source: Getty Images
Fassi left the field before half-time, later spotted in a moon boot. De Jager lasted just nine minutes before another shoulder issue forced him off, while Du Preez picked up a knee injury during training that is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the year.
Erasmus backing squad rotation
While admitting the injuries were a setback, Erasmus emphasised that the squad’s adaptability is a strength.
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“This group has been together for 13 weeks, and they’ve shown they are the right players for this task against Argentina,” Erasmus said.
“We’ve already used 46 players in our last eight matches, and that rotation has paid off. Younger and older players are pushing each other daily in training, and we’re confident in our depth.”
The Bok coach also pointed to the large pool of players exposed to the system through alignment camps, making replacements easier to integrate.
Source: Getty Images
Versatility is key to coping
Erasmus highlighted South Africa’s wealth of versatile players, capable of slotting into multiple roles if required.
“As sad as we are for Lood, Jean-Luc, Aphelele, Kurt-Lee, and the others, we are blessed with talent in this country,” he said.
“Many of our players can cover more than one position, and that flexibility is invaluable at this stage of the campaign.”
Argentina's threat looms large
Attention now shifts to the Rugby Championship double-header against Argentina. The Pumas moved up to sixth in the world rankings following their narrow victory over Australia in Sydney and have beaten South Africa in Santiago del Estero as recently as last year.
“The Pumas are a tough, physical outfit,” Erasmus warned.
“They’ll come here confident after beating Australia and New Zealand, and they play with guts and passion. It’s going to take two great performances to overcome them.”
Title race wide open
With all four teams still in contention, Erasmus underlined the fine margins that could decide this year’s Rugby Championship.
“There is no margin for error now. Every point matters, and any of the four teams can still win the competition,” he said.
“Our goal is clear: two big performances and hopefully retaining the title.”
South Africa host Argentina in Durban on 27 September, with the return leg a week later in London.
Springboks begin preparations for crucial Rugby Championship clash
Briefly News previously reported that the Springboks have returned to camp in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of a defining Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Durban next weekend.
With the title race finely balanced, every point will be crucial. Fresh from their emphatic 43-10 win over the All Blacks in Wellington on 13 September, the Boks now turn their focus to the Pumas in Durban on 27 September before closing out the tournament in London on 4 October.
Source: Briefly News
