Springbok named a strong Bomb Squad against Scotland because they know how tight the game was during the World Cup last year as South Africans face the Scottish at Murrayfield Stadium on Sunday (18:10), says coach Rassie Erasmus.  

Erasmus opted for a split of seven forwards and one back on the replacements’ bench and made 11 changes to the starting team that defeated Argentina in their closing Rugby Championship clash in Nelspruit in September.  

Fourteen players in the match-day squad featured in the match against the Pumas. 

Captain Siya Kolisi, who captained the side then to lift the Rugby Championship, has been left on the bench with experience of the seven forwards being the front row of Malcolm Marx, Vincent Koch and Gerhard Steenekamp, with RG Snyman providing lock cover, while Du Toit and Jasper Wiese set to give the team a boost at loose forward. 

During the Rugby World Cup’s first pool match at Orange Velodrome in Marseille, Scotland matched South Africa’s power play in the opening 40 minutes and trailed 6-3 at the break.  

However, it was contest without creating many scoring opportunities. 

But once the Boks’ powerful forwards came off the bench in the second period, as it is expected on Sunday, there was another shift in momentum and they were able to comfortably keep the Scots at bay.  

Two tries in three second-half minutes from flanker du Toit and wing Kurt-Lee Arendse pulled the Springboks clear and Scotland was unable to find a way back into the contest, barely threatening the South African tryline all game to win 18-3.  

This game will forever be remembered for flyhalf Manie Libbok’s no-look crosskick pass to set up Arendse to dive over.  

Erasmus acknowledges Scotland’s improved attacking game, particularly their varied kicking game and the threat posed by players like Duhan van der Merwe. However, he remains confident in his team’s ability to overcome the challenge.

“I remember that week leading up to the Scottish test match, I think everyone asked ‘Is this the best Scottish team ever? Is this the best attacking Scottish team ever?’,” said Erasmus at the press conference on Friday. 

“That was the talk and we think, the attack now, with the variation and the kicking game and not just Finn Russell running from all over, they definitely keeping us guessing because what they did in the Six Nations and what they did against Fiji, is totally opposite.  

“But if you look at the backline, I know Darcy (Graham) is out now with concussion but Duhan Van der Merwe is lethal, but they are a class team and we live in reality.  

“Although we beat them 18-3 during the World Cup, we know what happened in that game and how tight that game was.” 

That game gave the Boks a renewed energy as they went all the way to defend the Rugby World Cup title by edging New Zealand 12-11 in a titanic match at Stade de France, Saint-Denis.  

In that match, the Springbok stunned the world as they opted for the 7/1 split to nullify the power play and threat of the All Blacks and it worked, and it was what they have decided to do against Scotland on Sunday.

Encouragingly, the Springboks has a strong historical record against Scotland, winning eight consecutive Tests since 2010. A victory at Murrayfield on Sunday would further solidify their dominance over the Scottish.