Rassie Erasmus Sends Warning While Giving Update on Springboks Squad Ahead of Third All Blacks Test

• Rassie Erasmus signalled he may again alter the Springbok starting line-up before Saturday's Test against the All Blacks
• Johannesburg rain forecast for Friday has raised concerns about underfoot conditions at the venue ahead of kick-off
• Erasmus confirmed he reverted to his original front row after last week's weather-driven switch in Cape Town

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has warned that the team named for Saturday's second Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Johannesburg may not be the one that takes the field, with weather conditions again threatening to influence his selection decisions.

Erasmus drew attention at the start of the week by noting that Johannesburg faces a probability of heavy rain on Friday, which could leave the Ellis Park playing surface wet by the time Saturday's match kicks off. He acknowledged that this factor is being closely monitored ahead of the official team confirmation.

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"We've had the most beautiful weather for 13 weeks in Johannesburg and now there is a chance for rain. And that does change the game and approach," Erasmus said. "It makes handling tougher, it makes box kicking tougher, it makes players who want to strip the ball more effective and scrummaging is a little bit more difficult with a lighter pack."

He added that a final call would hinge on the state of the pitch. "If it's clear and dry this will be the team that's starting, but if it rains we might make a change or two. The team sheet is only officially signed an hour before the game, so you can swap the entire team if you want to."

**Last Week's Front Row Switch Explained**

The warning follows a similar move Erasmus made before last Saturday's Test in Cape Town, when he replaced the announced starting front row of Ox Nche, Wilco Louw and Malcolm Marx with the trio originally listed among the replacements — Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit and Deon Fourie — after a forecast for wet weather eased as kick-off approached. The decision attracted criticism from some quarters, though Erasmus maintained it was a straightforward weather-based call.

For the Johannesburg fixture, Erasmus has reverted to Nche, Louw and Marx in the starting front row, with Steenekamp, Du Toit and Fourie returning to the bench.

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**Erasmus Cites Continuity as Guiding Principle**

Erasmus justified restoring the original front row combination, explaining: "We decided to change our front rows last week due to the weather conditions, and Johannesburg weather is different to Cape Town, so we thought this would be the best decision for us this weekend."

He was also keen to stress the value of the players rotating off the bench, saying Steenekamp, Du Toit and Fourie had delivered under pressure and would be relied upon again. "It was always our plan to have a little more continuity in player combinations for this series," Erasmus said, adding that those who featured last week had shown composure and stuck to the team's plan effectively.

Source: Briefly News