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Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks selection has evoked an interesting reaction from fans on Twitter this week.
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Before he revealed his selection, he said that there would be two different squads to face the Wallabies on Saturday at Ellis Park and the All Blacks next week in Wellington. This is an approach that Erasmus has suggested he may use when it comes to the World Cup as well.
When looking at the team to face the Wallabies, only Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit are the two players that would be expected to start against the All Blacks in the World Cup pool stage, with Lood de Jager, Jesse Kriel and S’bu Nkosi also being contenders.
However, that does not mean that the fans are not confident of the Springboks getting this weekend’s job done against Australia.
This is still an impressive team, with a formidable pack, with flankers du Toit and debutante Ryan Elstadt also capable of playing in the second row.
Etzebeth is back.
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 17, 2019
Scrum-half Herschel Jantjies is the other player making his debut in the starting XV and will guide a promising backline alongside Elton Jantjies.
The team still also has a lot of experience, with 107-cap veteran Tendai Mtawarira starting, so it is understandable that the fans remain confident on social media despite a raft of regulars being absent. This is what the fans have said:
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They have what it takes to win and really they all have to prove themselves but they're tried and tested fellas https://t.co/0pKutcASj2
— Nkumbulo ?? (@jamessodabi) July 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/TweetDanielRae/status/1151505296168300546?s=20
https://twitter.com/EDvdW2/status/1151507869046583297?s=20
Excited to see this squad in action, the loose trio looks mean! It's going to be a good game of ruggas. https://t.co/AkHUCF4rDR
— Phumudzo Tshiovhe (@shepherd015) July 17, 2019
Wow, Boks "B" team looks good… Does this mean that Kolbe has overtaken Sbu Nkosi on the pecking order? https://t.co/uJYm6Q6tiv
— Skhomo Mhlatyana (@Vumza_) July 17, 2019
It's "virtually" a B team, but one that I trust to have enough firepower to beat the Wallabies on home soil. If they don't, it's not a trainwreck. The Rugby Championship is not that important in a World Cup year. Eyes on the prize.
— @rno (@watsenaam) July 17, 2019
So excited to see the @Springboks .. if that’s a B team then whoah.. that forward pack will be no match for the Aussies.. #Springboks
— mzv (@myboymdakane) July 17, 2019
I quite like the feel of this weekend's #Springboks side. Preparation for the World Cup is obviously the main focus and we giving a few lads a shot at the big stage. #RugbyChampionship
— Keegan Kruger (@KeeganKruger) July 17, 2019
The Wallabies have not beaten South Africa at Ellis Park in 56 years and while this is undoubtedly a weakened team, they still face a tough ask in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Despite some absences due to injury, Michael Cheika has named one of the strongest sides he can, meaning it will be a major boost for the Springboks if they do win.
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Nevertheless, the focus here is about building a team for the World Cup, and Erasmus feels that having two squads may be the best way forward. But there will still be players that work their way into the A team before September.
WATCH: Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus announces his team to face Australia on Saturday
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments