New Springboks captain as Rassie Erasmus makes mass changes for Wallabies

So much for Rassie saying he won’t under estimate Australia. Hope they get smashed.

if my data is correct Franco Mostert will be the 50th player to earn a Bok-cap this year (I am not considering the Barbarians game …)

Is Cameron Hanekom injured?

the starting 15 looks mostly solid, not world class though …. I have some question-marks at 8 (Hanekom would have been a way better choice in my humble view) and hope Moodie and Fassi will finally have a good day in a Boks jersey again for a change

Hearing what Rassie said, its possible the game ends with Jan-Hendrik Wessels at hooker and Moose at flank.

Pace in the outside backs and a quality bench, but on the whole this lineup feels a little light and loose to me. The Aussies are a good team, I’m not sure we’re giving them the respect they deserve. They’ll feel they’re in with a chance. Rassie has named a good young front row but perhaps lacking in grunt, industrious halfbacks but a bit short on playmaking, pace on the outside but maybe not as solid as you’d like. And with all the changes they’re unlikely to be cohesive or structured. There are weaknesses there for a good opposition to exploit. Hopefully I’m wrong — or better yet, hopefully I’m right but it comes off for us anyway.

Good to see Hooker retained and Mostert back. After getting their tails up at the end of the RGR series I would have liked to see Hanekom and Arendse getting more of a run to build their confidence.

It’s a smart team sheet once again from Rassie. He has picked a starting lineup featuring a lot of players he wants to see more from as they're going to be part of that 4 deep he is preparing for next year.

And playing so many greats from the bench is genuine insurance against the possibility of a similar collapse to what happened last year. He doesn't want to lose to the Wallabies again, especially not when his team just won their biggest series in almost 30 years.

It's all well planned and this is why the Boks are the dominant force in world rugby. There are many other players he could've gone with but this is a strong lineup. Which is credit to the threat that the Wallabies still are even if they're not yet world champion material again.

While for the Boks maybe there aren't too many things to be learned from this fixture, unless they lose of course, the Wallabies stand to be the big winners even though it's only a singular test.

They'll know after this weekend exactly where they currently stand in the scheme of things, whether they're well worth their 7th ranking, whether they can better it in the foreseeable future or whether they have a vast chasm still to cross.

Not the worst bench

Time for these players to play themselves into the RWC 27 Springbok squad. What an opportunity!

Wholesale changes were kinda expected. Only player I would’ve like to see in the 23 is Cam Hanekom.

Paul de Villiers has earned a start at blindside flanker, with Elrigh Louw getting a run at openside flanker.

Amateur writers. Get it right man, it is your job to report correctly. PDV is openside flank, and Louw blindside flank.

Wow, just wow. Rassie has literally surprised everyone. Disappointed not to see Cam Hanekom in at 8. Just 31 caps in the front 3 but to be fair they may just play 30mins and send on the big guns. Was expecting Thomas Du Toit and Boan venter to start. Marco van Staden at 8 is not unfamiliar but certainly surprising seeing as he is usually at 6. Elrigh Louw was obvious at 7 with PSDT going home as he is a lineout jumper. Herschel Jantjies as well is a shock with Grant Williams left out again. No surprises in the backs and glad to see Fassi Back. Horn off the bench as well is exciting and with plenty of firepower in reserve. If the starters do ok and the game is tight then the bench should have too much for the Wallabies in the second half

Wow! Look at the bench! It is the Nuke squad! 🔥Imagine you are a Wallaby rugby player at the 60th minute … all tired and then you notice Wilco Louw, Jasper Wiese and Malcolm Marx warming up on the sidelines waiting to come on! 🤣 But on a serious note … where is Faf de Klerk? Is Herschel Jantjies better than him? But who am I to question Dr. Rassie. In Rassie we trust! 😉