“Touch And Go” — Erasmus Makes Bold Half-Back Call

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has explained the thinking behind his selections for the opening Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday, stressing that combinations, player form and long-term fitness all played a role as South Africa prepare for a demanding four-Test series.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Grant Williams will form the half-back pairing, with Erasmus describing them as the two best options to start the first encounter.

“I think they are the two best options for us to start,” Erasmus said.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu has already made a significant impact at international level, with Erasmus highlighting his versatility and previous performances against New Zealand.

“Sacha’s done wonderful things for us when he’s played. He was the flyhalf last year when we beat them in Auckland,” he said.

Erasmus added that the Springboks do not select combinations simply because players regularly feature alongside one another at provincial level. Instead, the coaching staff focus on which players best understand their tactical approach and have performed strongest in training.

“We don’t always put combinations together because a certain pair plays together at the Stormers or the Sharks,” he said.

“We look at which player understands what we’re trying to do and which player trained the best,” added the World Cup-winning coach.

The coach acknowledged that selection decisions remain extremely tight across the squad, with Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard and Feinberg-Mngomezulu competing for flyhalf roles, while Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg and Herschel Jantjies are all pushing for opportunities at scrumhalf.

However, Erasmus’ selection strategy extends beyond the opening Test, with the Springboks carefully managing their squad across the four-match series.

“We firmly believe from our experience the game will probably get won in match three or four,” he said.

That longer-term approach has also influenced the decision to rotate players who are carrying injuries or lack sufficient match fitness.

Erasmus explained that the Springboks opted not to rush several forwards back into action, including tighthead props and locks who have had limited game time in recent weeks.

Franco Mostert is “definitely a bit undercooked”, according to Erasmus, having played just four minutes in the previous six weeks.

Lood de Jager has also endured a difficult period with injuries over the past seven or eight months and managed only around 40 minutes against Argentina.

“Our strength and conditioning coaches are doing a lot of work with those guys to get them up to match fitness,” Erasmus said.

The same thinking applies to captain Siya Kolisi, who could potentially have featured but has been managed carefully to avoid aggravating his fitness concerns before the decisive stages of the series.

“Siya probably could have played, but playing him this weekend would be risky when you get to match three of the series, and you have a lot of walking wounded,” Erasmus said.

For Erasmus, keeping the entire squad motivated and involved is therefore just as important as selecting the strongest possible XV for the opening Test.

“It was touch and go on who should play and who should not play,” he said.

“In our squad, we like the rotation, and if things go our way on Saturday, we can make a few changes next week.”