“He Deserves A Start”: Erasmus On The Scrumhalf Call Against All Blacks
Morne van den Berg’s impressive return from injury has earned him a starting berth against New Zealand, with Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus making two changes for the fourth Test of a scintillating series against the All Blacks.
The 28-year-old scrumhalf replaces Cobus Reinach in the No. 9 jersey after making an immediate impact from the replacements bench in Saturday’s thrilling Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clash at FNB Stadium.
Van den Berg entered the contest in the 44th minute and wasted little time making his presence felt. His high-energy performance included several important defensive contributions, none more notable than a crucial tackle on All Blacks flyer Will Jordan that forced the dangerous wing to knock the ball on.
Composed, assertive and energetic, Van den Berg looked right at home — and Erasmus believes his performance deserved a start.
“Morne has been tracked for a while,” Erasmus said.
“He is by no means a youngster who broke through; he is 28 years old but has been unfortunate with injuries and some good scrumhalves who have played ahead of him.”
Van den Berg’s route back into the Springbok starting XV has been anything but straightforward. Injuries have disrupted his progress, while the depth at scrumhalf has made breaking into the matchday squad particularly challenging.
However, his value to the squad has extended beyond his performances on the field. Erasmus highlighted the positive contribution Van den Berg has continued to make within the Springbok camp, even during periods when injury prevented him from playing.
“With Grant Williams injured, he has gotten his chance, and he has always contributed positively to the camp when he has been part of it, even if he is just helping with analysis,” Erasmus explained.
That willingness to contribute wherever required appears to have played an important role in Van den Berg’s eventual return to the fold.
After his latest injury, there were doubts over whether he would be able to force his way back into the Springbok mix, particularly given the quality and experience of the scrumhalves ahead of him.
But Van den Berg attacked his rehabilitation with determination and has now returned to full fitness at precisely the right time.
“After his last injury, we thought it was going to be tough for him to get back into the mix, but he went through rehab really well,” Erasmus said.
“He is back to full fitness, and when he came on, he did really well, so we feel he deserves a start.”
There is also an intriguing statistic accompanying Van den Berg’s selection: he boasts a 100% record against the All Blacks.
While his opportunities against New Zealand have been limited, that perfect record adds another layer of intrigue to his selection and gives the scrumhalf an impressive personal record against the Springboks’ greatest rivals.
For Van den Berg, though, the focus will be on making the most of the opportunity in front of him.
His performance at FNB Stadium showed that he has regained both his physical sharpness and confidence. Against an All Blacks side that thrives on pressure and quick transitions, those qualities could prove particularly valuable.
The selection represents more than simply a change at scrumhalf. It is recognition of Van den Berg’s patience, resilience and contribution to the squad — and a reward for a cameo that immediately reminded the Springbok coaches of what he can offer.
Now he gets his chance from the start, with a perfect record against the All Blacks to protect and a bigger opportunity to make his mark.
