Lukhanyo Am will partner Jesse Kriel in midfield for the Springboks against the Wallabies on Saturday. Photo: AFP
The selection of Lukhanyo Am at inside centre is an intriguing one among the 10 changes made by Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus on Tuesday for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies in Perth (11.45am SA time start).
While scrumhalf Morné van den Berg will make his first Test start, there is still a wealth of experience across the backline in the shape of Am, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel and Makazole Mapimpi.
Aphelele Fassi returns at fullback too, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues at flyhalf for the second week in a row after an impressive display in the 33-7 win in Brisbane last weekend.
Most of the changes by Erasmus on Tuesday are in the pack. There is a brand-new front row of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Thomas du Toit, while Moerat will be partnered at lock by Bulls skipper Ruan Nortjé.
RG Snyman is still nursing a foot problem that kept him out of the Brisbane Test, while Ben-Jason Dixon is out with a groin niggle, which sees Pieter-Steph du Toit shift back to blindside flank, while Marco van Staden is at openside, with regular captain Siya Kolisi gets a breather.
Others who have been rested are Frans Malherbe, Gerhard Steenekamp, Bongi Mbonambi, Cobus Reinach, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende and Willie le Roux.
“We made it clear from the outset this season that one of our main goals is to build squad depth with an eye on the next Rugby World Cup here in Australia, and we feel there is no better way to test some of the younger players and assess where we are as a group against a top-tier nation, especially away from home, in this match,” Erasmus said.
“We have a group of about 45 players that are part of our wider squad this season, and we’ve seen what most of these players can do.
“We have full faith in the younger generation of players coming through, and we feel this is the right time to Test them against an Australian outfit that will be desperate to bounce back strongly from last weekend.
“All of the younger players made a strong impression against Portugal and in the other Tests in which they received an opportunity to showcase their skills, and we believe that their hunger to play, combined with their individual skills will be a fantastic driving force for them to build on the result in Brisbane.
“We have a big squad, and it’s important to balance some players’ workload, while at the same time bringing a few young players into the mix, and this squad allows us to do both.
“This also means that every player in this travelling squad will have an opportunity to play. All of the players who have been excluded from the squad have been regulars this season, and we feel we’ll benefit in different ways by resting them this week.”
There is also an interesting mix on the bench, where Erasmus said on Tuesday that Handré Pollard is likely to come on at inside centre in the second half, with Manie Libbok also among the replacements.
“They will be desperate to come back strongly from last week’s defeat, and I have no doubt that Joe Schmidt (Australian head coach) will select a team that is fired up and who will give everything to turn things around and get their campaign back on track,” the Bok coach said.
“They are a proud nation, and they’ll be highly motivated to continue their impressive home win record against us in Australia, so we’re fully aware of the challenge.
“But we’re also determined to continue building on the changes we’ve made since the end of the 2022 season (in which the Boks have only suffered three defeats in 20 matches), and we have a determined and enthusiastic group of players who also have a lot to play for.
“This is a massive match for us because if we can build on last week, it will give us a good chance to be in the mix for the title which we last won in 2019.”
Springbok Team
15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Cheslin Kolbe 13 Jesse Kriel 12 Lukhanyo Am 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 9 Morné van den Berg 8 Elrigh Louw 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit 6 Marco van Staden 5 Ruan Nortjé 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain) 3 Thomas du Toit 2 Johan Grobbelaar 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx 17 Ox Nche 18 Vincent Koch 19 Eben Etzebeth 20 Kwagga Smith 21 Grant Williams 22 Manie Libbok 23 Handré Pollard.
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