Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has defended his decision to make significant changes to the starting lineup for the second Test match of the Rugby Championship against Australia in Perth on Saturday.

Despite the wholesale changes, Erasmus insists that it does not reflect a lack of respect for the opposition.

Lock Salman Moerat, who captained the Boks to a historic victory over Portugal, will lead the side in Australia. Morne van den Berg (scrumhalf) and Ruan Nortje (lock) will make their Test debuts, as ten players from the previous match against New Zealand have been rotated.

Regular captain Siya Kolisi is among those rested, with Marco van Staden taking over at number six. The only players retained in the starting lineup are Cheslin Kolbe (wing), Jesse Kriel (centre), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (flyhalf), Elrigh Louw (number eight), and Pieter-Steph du Toit, who moves from lock to flanker.

Erasmus explained that the changes are part of his strategy to balance team momentum with squad development. However, he has named a strong bench, including several World Cup winners, to provide cover if needed.

When questioned about the decision to make so many changes after New Zealand’s defeat to Argentina, Erasmus emphasized the importance of building depth for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. He also expressed confidence in the abilities of the players selected for the Test.

“But again, we won the World Cup,” explained Erasmus On Tuesday on why he didn’t go for the continuity after New Zealand, who has won the Rugby Championship in the last three years, lost to Argentina last weekend.  

Having seen Argentina stun New Zealand, one would have thought that the Boks would go all out again to win the second match and completely take charge of the table.   

But Erasmus kept this in mind that the Boks has two key matches against All Blacks in South Africa in the next coming weeks.  

“It is probably important to win the Rugby Championship, but it is equally important to build into the next World Cup, and of course it would be fantastic to win the Rugby Championship,” continued Erasmus.

“But then again, it is a slap in the face of the guys who are playing this weekend if we think they are not as good as the guys played last weekend. 

“So, we trust them fully and I think if speak about Thomas du Toit, Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch and Johan Grobbelaar, Malcolm Marx on the bench, how Aphelele Fassi has done in slotting in and learn and competed, you still have 14 World Cup winners in there and it is only two guys that has new caps.  

“So, this is not disrespect to Australia, this is not us feeling nonchalant about the game, this is us picking a team that we feel is good enough to get us to win although it would be really, really tough with Australia wants to bounce back. It is going to be interesting to see who steps up in Perth.  

“It wasn’t easy (to select the team) but we also think we trust everybody and hopefully we can get the results.”

A victory for the Springboks in Perth would mark their third consecutive win over Australia in Australia, a feat not achieved since the early 1990s.