Rassie builds experience and spreads game time

In keeping with his strategy to spread game time in his squad‚ Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named two uncapped players in his match day-23 for Saturday’s opening Rugby Championships clash against Argentina at Kings Park, writes Liam Del Carme.

Wildly gifted Stormers utility back Damian Willemse and flank Marco van Staden have been introduced to a team that sees sweeping changes from the one that did duty in the third Test against England in June. changes are on the cards by the time the Boks host the Wallabies and All Blacks in their last two matches in the tournament.

There will be pressure to win those home Tests and Erasmus was remarkably precise when asked how many changes he expected to make to Saturday’s starting team for those engagements. “Four‚ yes four‚” he said.

Some of those changes are a result of some players’ commitments overseas‚ but there will also be a natural culling process.

For his selection on Saturday‚ Erasmus has had to rearrange his backrow in the absence of hulking No 8 Duane Vermeulen.

Former captain Warren Whiteley starts at No 8‚ current captain Siya Kolisi at seven and Francois Louw is in the fetcher’s role at six.

“Francois comes in at openside where Siya played before‚” Erasmus said.

“Siya moves back to blindside where he always played until three‚ four years ago.”

Erasmus stressed the need for balance in his backrow.

Due to limited activity in recent weeks‚ the coach does not expect Louw to last the full 80 minutes.

Another player he expects to substitute is returning former captain and lock Eben Etzebeth.

“It is nice to have a leadership group in the pack that consists of Warren‚ Siya‚ Pieter-Steph and Eben who have all captained the Boks‚ and Francois Louw who captains Bath.

“We are starting to build some experience there,” Erasmus said.