Rassie Erasmus has picked a potent Bok squad to defend the Rugby Championship title won a year ago, when the Boks lost just one in six matches, writes Mark Keohane.
Erasmus, who had picked four different playing squads for the four matches in July, including three Test matches, reduced his squad total and predictably excluded the likes of Evan Roos, who clearly does not fit the bill as the type of No 8 he wants anchoring the foot of the Boks scrum.
Erasmus will revisit the squad post the two home Test matches against Australia, in Johannesburg on the 16th August and in Cape Town a week later, on the 23rd August.
The Boks then have a week off before heading to New Zealand for the most anticipated Test of the season, the 6th of September against the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland.
The Boks play the All Blacks a week later in Wellington, where they have won one and drawn one of their last two Test matches.
A few World Cup-winning veterans will get game time in the Currie Cup over the next few weeks and the likes of Roos, Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat and tighthead prop Neethling Fouche will be part of the club’s URC pre-season.
Sharks utility back Ethan Hooker, despite a brief cameo in the second Test against Italy, is included, which is a good news story and Cobus Wiese, having made his Test debut at lock and played No 8 against Georgia, doubles for Roos and Moerat, who have been one position-specific selections in the past.
Andre Esterhuizen’s expansion to be a support loose-forward option sees the big No 12 picked, while Edwill van der Merwe, on the right wing, made a compelling statement in the two matches he played in July.
Erasmus has retained all three No 10s in Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok and World Cup goal kicking hero Handre Pollard, while newbie Boan Venter is included ahead of the experienced Thomas du Toit, who is expected to feature against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
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