If blooding young bucks is top of their priorities, the Bok bench could buckle under the weight of Test caps sitting in wait in Santiago del Estero next Saturday. In fact, the bench for the Rugby Championship clash against Argentina may well feature more caps than the starting team — if the enthusiastic deployment of young talent by Rassie Erasmus this year is anything to go by.
They, however, cannot get too carried away, and would have taken note of Los Pumas’ clawing of the All Blacks and the Wallabies. “It doesn’t matter how one looks at it. We don’t want to lose against Argentina, and it’s exactly the same for them,” said Erasmus about the clash 950km northwest of Buenos Aires.
“They must firmly believe they’re still in the running for the trophy, so whether we win, or they win, both teams will be very hungry.”
The Boks do, however, have an eight-point lead, allowing them to be bold in selection. Besides, should things go south in Santiago, they dash home to Mbombela next Sunday for another crack at claiming the title against the same opposition.
By leaving seven established players at home the Boks have already given a strong indication they intend spreading game time in their squad next weekend.
Should they put their faith in the young guns they will have to have locked and loaded cavalry. There is no short supply of battle-hardened warriors on tour but some have had heavy workloads this year.
They must firmly believe they are still in the running for the trophy, so whether we win, or they win, both teams will be very hungry.
— Rassie Erasmus, Springbok coach
Prop Ox Nche, lock Eben Etzebeth, loose forward Kwagga Smith and centre Jesse Kriel have all featured in seven Tests this year, as has Malcolm Marx, but his is a peculiar case. Marx, who returned from long-term injury in June, started against Wales and has played his next six off the bench.
Some of those heavy-hitters may be used sparingly next week.
Even before their departure, the Boks needed to reach deeper in their reserves with scrumhalf Morne van den Berg summoned for duty after Grant Williams was sidelined with an arm injury. Van den Berg isn’t exactly the next cab off the rank as Jaden Hendrikse, who has featured in just one Test this year, and Cobus Reinach, who has played in three, are more likely to see combat. Reinach will be a useful bench selection if the Boks deploy the Bomb Squad.
“Morne has only played two Tests so far, and facing Argentina at home is a completely different challenge to what he has faced so far, as is the case with many of the younger players in the touring squad,” said Erasmus.
Flyhalf Manie Libbok, who has had to give way for the rise of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, looks a likely starter, while Handré Pollard may make a fourth appearance off the bench this year.
Lukhanyo Am will have painful memories of his last trip to Argentina. It was there last year that he suffered an injury that kept him out of the Rugby World Cup. Am’s only start at inside-centre was in Perth last month, and he may be destined for similar deployment unless the Bok selectors opt to play Pollard. That could pave the way for Am’s return to outside-centre, allowing Kriel to take a break.
Resting Kriel, of course, also opens the possibility of Canan Moodie getting another crack in the No 13 jersey. Three of his last four Tests have been at outside-centre.
Kurt-Lee Arendse is back from concussion and is expected to start along with Makazole Mapimpi, with Aphelele Fassi completing the back three.
The team reassembled last Thursday and departed for Argentina yesterday.
Springbok squad for Argentina tour:
Props: Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Ox Nche, Gerhard Steenekamp.
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar, Malcolm Marx.
Locks: Eben Etzebeth, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Nortje.
Loose forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon, Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Jasper Wiese.
Utility forward: Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg.
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok, Handré Pollard.
Centres: Lukhanyo Am, Jesse Kriel.
Outside-backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Makazole Mapimpi.
Utility-back: Canan Moodie.
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