Erasmus explains Bok selection
SPRINGBOK coach Rassie Erasmus says he may have to play a loose forward in the backline if they pick up more than two injuries in their crucial World Cup match against Italy on Friday.
Erasmus has gone with a six-two split for their third pool game in Shizuoka, with locks Franco Mostert, RG Snyman and loose forward Francois Louw among the replacements.
In their 57-3 win against Namibia on Saturday, Mostert came on at blindside flank in the second half after Kwagga Smith, Louw and Schalk Brits started as the loose trio.
Erasmus yesterday explained his thinking behind the forwards-backline split, admitting it’s a gamble and that they’d have to get “creative” should more than two backline players get injured.
“People may think it is a gamble to have only two back replacements, but we want to have plenty of ammunition for what is likely to be a major forward battle,” Erasmus said.
“It’s a 23-player game these days and the players who come on will be expected to contribute almost as much in game time as those who start among the front rowers.
“But for this game we are asking the players we have chosen to start to set the tone.
“If we do get a third injury in the backline, then we will have to be creative. But we have some plans there.
“I think if we really have to, in extreme circumstances because of injuries, we have a versatile enough backline to cover that.”
Meanwhile, the Boks have lost a second player after Trevor Nyakane to injury, with Jesse Kriel now also ruled out of the World Cup. He has been replaced by Damian Willemse, who will join the squad tomorrow. |