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Quagg Smith, a versatile forward for the Springboks team, recognized Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus as the main ideologue behind the team's experiments with hybrid players, emphasizing that this tactic reflects the coach's broader philosophy regarding rugby.

Philosophy of Versatility

Smith himself is one of the first 'hybrid' players, thanks to his sevens skills acquired with the Blitzboks. He played on the open flank, as an eighth player, and even substituted for the Boks forwards in test matches. Erasmus's tenure leading the Boks is characterized by a high priority placed on player versatility, allowing many athletes to cover multiple positions, both in the forward line and the backline.

Examples of Versatile Players

In several examples, such as Pieter-Steph du Toit, Francois Mustert, Marco van der Merwe, Dion Fury, and later players Jan-Hendrik Vessels and Ben-Jason Dixon, they were used in multiple positions in the front row. In the backline, similar changes were demonstrated by Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse, Kanan Moody, and Hendre Pollard. Furthermore, Juan Corn, who usually played in a full position, was tested by Erasmus in the wing position.

Extreme Rotation Examples

The most striking examples were Fury and Van der Merwe, who are fundamentally forwards but participated in the hooker position when required by the Boks' scheme, which was most noticeable in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. Andre Esterhuizen, a 32-year-old player who is a large centre, should also be mentioned; Erasmus valued his potential in the role of a forward, allowing the 'Giant' to change roles during the match as needed.

Smith's Gratitude to Erasmus

Smith stated that all credit for the development and evolution of the hybrid player belongs to Rassie. He recounted that Erasmus first approached him at the Loftus training camp with the instruction: 'Listen, we are going to implement a 6-2 split, and you must be able to play on the wing or as a halfback or anything.' Smith noted that Erasmus is capable of convincing people of a common goal and teaching useful skills. He added that for Andre, the ability to play as a forward is a huge advantage because it allows him to receive more test matches.

Upcoming Matches and Squad

This coming weekend, the Boks will adopt a more cautious approach to versatility in the match against Wales as part of the Nations Championship. Nevertheless, Vessels, who played in the hooker position against Scotland last week, has been selected for the prop position for Saturday's game (the match starts at 17:40). Ben-Jason Dixon is also included in the squad as a lock backup, despite his skill on the flank, and Willemse is expected to cover the wing, centre, and fullback positions.

The 28-year-old lock, Ruben van Heerden, is set to play his first match for the Springboks in an international test this Saturday. He noted that his path to debut required 'the patience of Job.'

Career and Expectations

This lock will feature in his first Springboks match against Wales, which will take place in Durban. Previously, there were high expectations that he would play for South Africa, as he demonstrated outstanding abilities even in school years at Affies in Pretoria. In 2015, he played for SA Schools, and in 2017, he was part of the SA Under-20 squad and was in the SA A team.

Player Development Period

However, his career path faced challenges. After two seasons with the Bulls club, he spent five years playing for the Sharks. He then briefly moved to England, playing for Exeter Chiefs. Since 2022, he has been playing for the Stormers, where, according to him, he has managed to flourish.

Thoughts on Debut

Van Heerden described receiving the call-up to the Boks as 'quite surreal.' He emphasized that everyone goes through their own unique journey, and he is grateful for the opportunity, hoping to make the most of it on Saturday. He also stated that he never doubted his ability to achieve this goal, considering it a constant objective.

Significance of Hardships

The player added that some athletes have to 'knock very hard on the door,' while others might do so more gently, as every player's situation is unique. He believes that the long wait has given this moment immense significance. Van Heerden explained that disappointments arising when a player feels they performed well but recognition does not come shape character and help them become who they are now, and he intends to take full advantage of this chance.

Gratitude to Clubs

The 2-meter, 125-kg giant shared that when his name was called for the team facing Wales, he could not believe his ears. He described it as a mix of shock and excitement but stated that he feels no nervousness on Saturday. Van Heerden expressed gratitude to the Stormers for giving impetus to his aspirations in the Springboks. He also noted that while he has fond memories of the Sharks, the change of scenery in Cape Town helped him, and the trust placed in him by the coaching staff contributed to his current success.

The head coach of the Banyana Banyana national team, Disari Ellis, welcomed the return of Robin Mudali-Salgado to the squad. She expressed satisfaction that the midfielder has reached a state where she feels psychologically ready to return to international matches.

Player's Return to the Squad

Mudali-Salgado was spotted at a Banyana open training session at the AW Muller stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Her appearance came after she was included in the preliminary list of 31 players for the upcoming Wafcon tournament later this month.

The midfielder returned to the national team after announcing a temporary break from international play at the end of 2023. At that time, she decided to take a pause to focus on her mental health while continuing to play for her club JVW Ladies in the Hollywoodbets Super League championship.

Coach's Comments on the Return

Ellis commented on her return, stating: 'I do not want to go into detail about it. I do not want to talk about one specific player, but I am happy that she is back.' She clarified that, as far as she knows, the player did not retire but simply stepped away from international football to focus on her mental well-being.

Mental Health Priority in the Team

The Safa national team is paying more attention to mental health, especially following the tragic death of Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams, who reportedly died by suicide due to depression. To raise awareness about mental health, Safa hired a mental coach for Banyana before the tournament—a move that Ellis greatly appreciated.

Ellis reported that there is a coach in the camp assisting with psychological aspects and added that she herself benefits from the support of a personal coach. She emphasized that football is not an easy sport, and the team ensures everyone feels well. 'We are dealing not only with footballers but first and foremost with people. I think people forget that before we became athletes, we were human beings. We have the same problems as everyone else.'

Next Steps and Tournament

It will be decided whether Mudali-Salgado will be included in the final squad when Ellis announces the 26-player roster that will represent Banyana at the Wafcon finals in Morocco.