Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus confident in squad for Wallabies Test

In his starting line-up to face Australia in the opening Test of the Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park on Saturday, coach Rassie Erasmus has picked eight players with less than 30 international caps. 

But he insists Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe, André Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Grant Williams, Marco van Staden and Wilco Louw are of international standard and he is building depth. 

Erasmus was responding to suggestions the squad is made up largely of ‘second stringers’ and may be thin on experience against the Wallabies, who will be battle-ready after recent clashes with the British and Irish Lions. 

There are old heads with the vast experience of Jesse Kriel, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth and Malcolm Marx, who have earned more than 50 caps. 

Also named is Ox Nche, sitting on 41 caps, and there are Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach and Damian Willemse (all with more than 40 caps) who will provide fresh legs from the bench.

“I am not sure [about second stringers], if you take Handrè [Pollard], Manie [Libbok] and Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] among the flyhalves and the scrum halves [Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach], they are all of Test rugby quality.

“It is the same with centres, we all know Damian de Allende is world class, André Esterhuizen has never dropped us before and elsewhere there is Jesse [Kriel], Canan [Moodie] and Ethan Hooker.” 

“All of them are of Test-match level, but Jesse is probably our most experienced there. Cheslin [Kolbe] had a knee injury and Edwill [Van der Merwe] has done really well. 

“Edwill has never lost a Test match and he has scored about four tries in three matches.” 

One of the most experienced players in the current squad is centurion fullback Willie le Roux. 

“At fullback we have Willie [Le Roux] who has just got through his hundred matches and he is teaching the young guys a lot. Aphelele [Fassi] and Damian [Willemse] are competing really well at fullback with Willie [Le Roux] as their back up. 

“If you look overall in the backline [there is depth], it is probably on the bench where you can discuss it a little bit. Cobus [Reinach] is 34 already, but he brings experience when he gets onto the park. 

“I think Grant [Williams] has been firing really well and he is over his injury.” 

Erasmus said his front row is possibly the best he has assembled. 

“When you look at the pack, I don’t think anybody can argue that the front row that is starting in this match is the best if not close to being the best in our squad. There is one or two guys off the bench, Bongi [Mbonambi] is experienced, Jan-Hendrik Wessels is a youngster who has played against Australia before. 

“We have given him a run with a guy like Bongi [Mbonambi] next to him, Lood [De Jager] and Eben Etzebeth understand each other because they have played under these circumstances before. 

“You also have Marco [Van Staden], Siya [Kolisi] and Pieter-Steph [du Toit]. I think it is a solid squad, and if things go according to plan, next week we will hopefully give other guys a chance.

“There will be other guys who swing in both matches, but it is a relatively strong team that we have picked.”