Rassie’s big gamble

– Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is today set to make as many as eight changes to his starting line-up for the Rugby Championship opener against Argentina at Kings Park on Saturday.

Players who could lose out from the last Test at Newlands, where the Boks lost 25-10 to England, include injured players such as fullback Warrick Gelant, centre Damian de Allende and wing Sbu Nkosi.

Eighthman, while No 8 Duane Vermeulen is not available.

But other players like flyhalf Elton Jantjies and hooker Bongi Mbonambi are set to lose their places to Handre Pollard and Malcolm Marx, while openside flank Marco van Staden could be called up.

The biggest waves would be made with the inclusion of Damian Willemse at fullback and the return of lock Eben Etzebeth who, with Marx will add grunt to the side.

While admitting Etzebeth might struggle with match fitness after eight months on the sidelines, Erasmus is excited at what Willemse might bring, compared with experienced fullback Willie le Roux.

“If Warrick [Gelant] was fit, it would have been wonderful to have started him,” said Erasmus.

“So, we are seeing Willemse very much in that role now. We can call on the overseas guys and use them all of the time, but that would be selfish on the team.”

Overseas players like Le Roux, flank Francois Louw and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, could be used sparingly as there was doubt whether they would be available for the entire championship.

“We want to make sure if we do get an injury we are covered. Say if Faf does go down before the World Cup, what do we do then?” Erasmus said.

“If we rely on Faf or Duane right through to the World Cup and enforce regulation 9 [to use overseas players in the international window] and we lose the three of them just before the World Cup, we might be in trouble.”

Durban

Bidvest Wits made it three wins in a row after edging Orlando Pirates 1-0 courtesy of substitute Haashim Domingos in an Absa Premiership League encounter at the Orlando Stadium last night.

It was a good welcome back for coach Gavin Hunt who returned to the bench after his suspension from last season which saw him miss the first two games of the new season.

For Pirates, it was not a good show for their decent home crowd that filled the stadium despite the team crashing out of the MTN8 this past weekend.

In the beginning stages of the game, Pirates’ Justin Shonga got a chance to test Darren Keet, but the striker shot straight at the Wits keeper.

In the 11th minute, Mxolisi Macuphu’s shot was tipped over the bar by Bucs keeper Siyabonga Mpontshane.

Pirates grew much stronger in the game and a well struck shot by midfielder Xola Mlambo outside the box was tipped over the bar for a corner by Keet in the 20th minute.

Some lovely piece of play by Gift Motupa saw him turning the Bucs defence to face their goals in the 24th minute, but he failed to direct his shot on target.

The best chance of the first half came through in the way of Shonga after a mistake from left-back Sifiso Hlanti trying to pass the ball back to his keeper, but the Pirates striker failed to capitalise as he once again shot straight at Keet with the match heading into the break goalless.

Early substitute in the second half saw Micho Sredojevic put in striker Thamsanqa Gabuza for Augustine Mulenga.

In their quest for an opening goal of the match, Vincent Pule charged through inside the midfield before dipping in a ball towards the poles with Keet well beaten, but the ball hit the upright in the 53rd minute.

The two sides went on and on in search for a goal, but none of their efforts went in.

However, with Pirates looking likely to be the first to get on the score-sheet, it was the Clever Boys who went in front through a deflected Domingos cross beating Mpontshane in the 80th minute.

The goal was enough to keep Wits at the top of the log with nine points, while Pirates remain on four points.

Wits host SuperSport United on Saturday, while Pirates travel to Bloemfontein to meet Celtic on Sunday.