Erasmus: Wallabies easier proposition without Folau
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus insists he is isn’t disrespecting the Wallabies by picking an understrength team for this weekend’s Rugby Championship test but admits he doesn’t have to worry as much now that Israel Folau is not among the Australian ranks.
Erasmus believes the visitors will be weaker without Folau up their sleeve in a game where the Australians will be looking to break a 56-year drought at Ellis Park.
It was no secret Erasmus was going to rest some of his best players for next week’s hit-out against the All Blacks in New Zealand but the outfit he has assembled is far from a B side.
Eben Etzebeth will captain the Springboks while regular skipper Siya Kolisi recovers from a knee injury.
Prop Tendai Mtawarira, secondrower Lood de Jager, No 7 PieterSteph du Toit, five-eighth Elton Jantjies and Jesse Kriel are among the big names who will line up for South Africa tomorrow (NZ time).
The likes of Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard have been left out of the team due to workload management ahead of a New Zealand fixture the Springboks clearly view as more important than the Australian one.
‘‘I give you my word, there is no disrespect to Australia at all,’’ Erasmus told reporters. ‘‘It’s a bit of a juggling act. We just feel for this specific game and the way Australia play, it’s a width game, outflanking game, a high-pace game and a ball in play game . . . we feel it’s the best combination to contain them speedwise.’’
With no Folau in the Wallabies, Erasmus can breathe a sigh of relief knowing his men won’t have to contain the aerial prowess of one of Australia’s greatest fullbacks.
However, Folau wasn’t particularly devastating against South Africa during his test days, scoring just two tries in 10 appearances.
It is Australia’s first test without Folau since he was sacked by Rugby Australia for posting to social media an image that said homosexuals were destined for hell unless they repented their sins.
‘‘They’ll be less of a threat aerially without him . . . that is one thing you worry about,’’ Erasmus said. ‘‘I don’t know how influential he was as a leader but certainly I think we have a better chance in the aerial department. He is a great striker and finishes tries. He was the top try scorer [in Super Rugby]. He is an influential player.
‘‘There is no doubt they will miss Folau because he is a world-class player but they interchange positions no matter the number on their back.’’
South Africa and Australia, ranked fifth and sixth respectively in the world, will be aiming to get their Rugby Championship campaign off to a favourable start ahead of what is a massive year for all teams across the globe.
The Wallabies have lost 11 of their last 15 matches, while South Africa have lost eight of their previous 15 encounters.
‘‘They will come out in this game and see this as a big must-win for them,’’ Erasmus said. ‘‘If you take [a look at] their last few matches at the end of last year they would like to pick up some momentum. This is a pretty big game in terms of picking up momentum for them.
‘‘It’s a massive game and there is no doubt there is a bit of a gamble that we are taking. You can’t have your eye on the World Cup without building momentum going into the World Cup.’’