As the Springboks face an unprecedented crisis in their defensive lineup ahead of the match against Wales, legendary player Bakkies Botha shares his views on the evolution of modern rugby, the rise of hybrid players, and expresses full confidence in Rassie Erasmus's tactical acumen.
It cannot be denied that the depth of the Springboks squad has been tested over the past month in several positions, with the perceived defensive crisis being the most serious issue before the Nations Cup begins. Indeed, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus had to plan recent games against England and Scotland, as well as the upcoming Saturday fixture against Wales at Kings Park in Durban (starting at 17:40), without players such as Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Lud de Jager, Franco Mostert, Salmaan Moerat, and Jean Klein—all of whom are injured. If you add Juan van der Merwe from the Lions, who was expected to feature somewhat in the second row this month, the list of unavailable players is indeed extensive.
Although such a situation would be devastating for most national test teams, Erasmus's team depth allowed them to bring in Kobus Wieße, Juan Nortje, Ben-Jason Dixon, and reserve captain Pieter-Steph du Toit to play in positions #4 and #5. Of these four, only Nortje is considered a full-fledged defender. For former Bok legend Bakkies Botha, this versatility demonstrates the development of the game and Erasmus's mastery in understanding this paradigm shift.
Botha stated that the game has changed significantly. He noted that not long ago Pieter-Steph du Toit played in the defensive position, and then returned to replace the injured Eben, playing as captain and #4 defender. He showed impressive play last week and last weekend. Botha emphasized that the defensive position is no longer narrowly specialized: a #6 can play at #5, a #5 can play at #4, and wingers today can play defense, and vice versa. He added that in the last couple of years, there has been an emergence of hybrid players, and thanks to squad depth and the appearance of young talent, he believes there will be no problems. He also expressed confidence that 'there will always be a plan when Rassie is around,' and believes they have enough depth, citing the match against England where, despite some players being out of position and the arrival of new faces, they delivered a stunning performance.
This coming weekend in Durban, the Boks will present a new defensive combination. Regarding the selection, it is a kind of risk. The Bulls player, versatile forward Wieße, will play his fourth test match, and Ruben van Heerden will debut. Du Toit remains as a substitute, starting at blindside flanker, while Dixon is on the bench. Botha expressed delight regarding the selection of Van Heerden, as well as the inclusion of a new generation of players, including Paul de Villiers, who will strengthen the squad for next year's Rugby World Cup.
Botha mentioned that he is happy for Ruben, asking how many seasons he played for the Bulls and Stormers. He also stressed that many young players are coming into focus ahead of the next World Cup. He noted that the team announced this weekend shows the arrival of new faces who will get their chance. The main question, in his opinion, is which young player will declare their desire to be in the squad for the next World Cup. He highly praised Paul de Villiers, calling him an outstanding player who demonstrates a low center of gravity and has a big impact in the ball contest. He specified that it is not just about turnovers, but also about the two seconds he slows down the ball contest, allowing the defensive line to get into position.
The South African rugby coach, Rassie Erasmus, confirmed his promise by including four players who had not previously played for the national team in the confrontation with Wales in Durban this Saturday. Among these players are 20-year-old home-field playmaker Wuse Moyo and powerful scrummer Carlu Seydi, demonstrating the readiness of a new generation of South African talents.
Senior players Ruben van Heerden and Carlu Seydi, along with young players Jaco Williams and Wuse Moyo, were included in the squad of the experienced South African national team, which is expected to have sufficient strength to play against Wales at Kings Park stadium (the match starts at 17:40). Erasmus noted that the team provided opportunities to players from the start of preparations before the match against the Barbarians, and now those who were in the camp for seven weeks are getting a chance by helping the national team in test matches.
The coach also reported that some players, including Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, and Luuid de Jager, are in the group with minor injuries. Logically, they should be rested for next week, and a suitable game for them will be the away friendly against Argentina scheduled for August 8th.
Moyo, the playmaker from the Sharks, debuts for the South African national team at home and will play alongside experienced Kobus Reinach. Erasmus emphasized Moyo's unique qualities, noting that despite his age (20 years), he is a large player who is not afraid of the physical aspect of the game. He also described Moyo as a calm player with soft hands who kicks the ball excellently, whether it is repeats, touches, or attempts at the posts, although he has no experience in a test match yet.
Regarding Williams, Moyo's teammate, Erasmus stated that Jaco, being a graduate of the junior national team, has shown that besides speed, he also possesses physical strength. At 21 years old and not having a large build, he demonstrates a combination of power, speed, and 'X-factor'.
Ruben van Heerden, a 28-year-old second-row player, has long awaited his debut for the South African national team. Erasmus expressed happiness about his inclusion, noting that there have been instances in the past where players in the camp did not get a chance due to the coach's nervousness or circumstances. Van Heerden demonstrated excellent play in the scrums last year against the Barbarians. This year he was selected to participate in the Barbarians match but declined, preferring to play for the SA A team. The coach noted that his recognition is deserved because he prepared the players participating in the test matches for seven weeks, and that they do not give 'caps' away for free, considering that Ruan (Northje) also needs rest after playing many matches.
Carlu Seydi, a 29-year-old player, has also long remained on the verge of a debut. Erasmus explained that Seydi played for the Bordeaux team that won the Champions Cup, and it is impossible to start in such a team if one cannot play effectively in the scrum. The presence of Seydi and Wilko Lou in the team is beneficial for hooker Johan Grobbelaar, as he has good scrummers available.
Despite the exciting events that took place during the Nations Championship tournament, Rassie Erasmus emphasized that the Springboks team does not intend to abandon its core playing philosophy. He explained why the team adheres to its proven style.
The first round of the debut Nations Championship concluded with an impressive number of tries: 54 touchdowns were scored in six matches as teams fought for bonus points. Nevertheless, the Springboks will maintain their approach to series matches.
Coach Rassie Erasmus noted that he witnessed 'beautiful football' at the start of the hemisphere battle. He observed that there were many thrilling moments and many games opened up. However, he pointed out that during one weekend, the team scored more touchdowns in the mauls than in the entire Six Nations tournament.
Erasmus stated that regardless of whether the teams were chasing bonus points, the main goal in a series match is to win. He added that disrespecting this principle would likely lead to defeat, and victory remains the most important indicator for them.
The results showed the northern hemisphere having an advantage over the southern: Ireland beat the Wallabies in Sydney, and Scotland defeated the Pumas in Buenos Aires. However, Erasmus believes that the Rugby Championship teams will improve their play. He noted that Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and themselves are in a similar situation, being 'a bit rusty' before the new season.
According to Erasmus, Southern Hemisphere teams usually require one or two matches to find cohesion. He cited the example of Argentina and mentioned that although Scotland played well and beat England in the Six Nations, the Pumas have difficulties because many of their key players play for teams in France, England, Japan, and other countries. Furthermore, they did not have a preparatory match because their playmaker and coach had just returned after participating in Barbarians matches.
In the game against England, in Erasmus's opinion, the situation was tense at halftime. After receiving a yellow card in the first half, the opponents closed the gap on them, and after two yellow cards at the end of the game, the distance increased. Therefore, these factors must be taken into account when assessing the outcome of the match. The coach stressed that team spirit was demonstrated very brightly, which is critically important since it usually takes several games to achieve synchronization before the Rugby Championship or the 'Greatest Showdown' tour this year.
Erasmus reiterated that suddenly stepping into a series match after seven months of inactivity is extremely difficult. He concluded that the game against England is in the past, and the players' upcoming weekend will require quick adaptation, similar to what the team did last week, to ensure a fast start that will be determined by intensity and intent, rather than necessarily by scoreboard results.
Following a convincing victory over England at Ellis Park, which dispelled any doubts about the Springboks being the best team in the world, coach Rassie Erasmus can freely conduct experiments with his squad in the next two Nations Cup matches.
The Boks secured a confident win with a score of 45-21, demonstrating that they remain the benchmark of world rugby. The team started the campaign strongly, scoring seven touchdowns and showing excellent interaction between the forwards and the backline.
Despite signs of similarity to last year's match against Australia early in the game at Ellis Park, when England managed to come back just before halftime, a change in attitude after the break allowed the South Africans to regain the advantage. They did not allow their intensity to drop, defending accurately and attacking confidently and purposefully.
Even with injuries to key players such as captain Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth, who were forced off the field, the team demonstrated a high level. Cameron Hanekom, who played one game, and debutant Paul de Villiers stepped in for them. Erasmus and his assistants had to reorganize the line, but even these late substitutions could not destabilize the team.
This testifies to the exceptional nature of the squad, where players can easily integrate into the game without appearing uncertain in their roles. De Villiers performed excellently in the ball contest, while Hanekom, despite playing out of his primary number 8 position, made several powerful runs and important tackles.
Since there are upcoming matches against Scotland and Wales, as well as another meeting with Argentina, the Springboks no longer have to prove their superiority to the world. They have already beaten England and previously overcome all these opponents.
This makes the upcoming test matches an ideal opportunity for the Boks' coaches to continue investing in young athletes, including midfielder Wusi Moyo and winger Jaco Williams, giving them valuable experience at the Test level before the Rugby Championship against the All Blacks. By the time this series arrives, these players will have gained additional experience and, if needed against the Boks' oldest rivals, will be ready to replace veterans.
Unfortunately, the injury to Riley Norton was a missed opportunity, as he could have been another suitable candidate to gain experience in the upcoming matches. The world champions once again showed why they are at the top of the game, and why the depth of their squad inspires envy in world rugby. Despite the absence of several front-row players, they still had too much strength for England.
