Jean de Villiers: ‘Underestimate this Springboks team at your own peril’
Former Springboks captain Jean de Villiers has warned Australia not to underestimate the largely changed South African team in Round Two of the Rugby Championship.
Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to the side that defeated the Wallabies 33-7 in Brisbane in Round One, with several star players missing the clash in Perth.
Salmaan Moerat will captain the side that still boasts eight Rugby World Cup winners on the bench and seven in the starting XV.
A strong Springboks outfit
Erasmus quickly dismissed claims that South Africa were ‘disrespecting’ Australia with the selections and De Villiers agreed, highlighting that it is still a strong team.
“The Springboks have made 10 changes to the starting XV and immediately when you hear that, you think ‘Ah South Africa is disrespecting Australia and getting arrogant’,” De Villiers said when previewing the second Test on The Verdict podcast.
“But then you go and look at that team and you look at the experience that’s in that starting XV and on the bench and you go through that team player for player, it’s an extremely exciting squad team with a nice blend of youth and experience.”
Fellow ex-Springbok Hanyani Shimange agreed and ran through the team to further emphasise his point.
“I like the team, Thomas du Toit is one of the best props in the Premiership, he is athletic and powerful,” he said.
“Jan-Hendrik Wessels is just as athletic as Angus Bell as a ball carrier, Johan Grobbelaar was good in the URC and then you have the two URC captains in the second-row in Ruan Nortje and Salmaan Moerat.
“Marco van Staden has always been good off the bench for the Springboks, Elrigh Louw probably had his best game in a Bok jersey last weekend, Pieter-Steph du Toit, I can’t even talk more about him.
“Morne van den Berg is an exciting young player and links up with Sacha who has been good and it just goes on, with Lukhanyo Am at inside centre looking to give us more width on attack and Fassi gets a chance.”
He added: “I love this Springboks selection, a coach will often put his arm around a player and say ‘Just be patient, you will get your chance’ but Rassie is saying ‘I will give you, your chance but it is up to the player to perform now.’”
Risky selections
The pair believe that the Springboks bench will have a huge influence on the game particularly with the testing conditions expected in Perth as heavy rain is predicted.
While they were confident that this matchday 23 could secure back-to-back wins in Australia for the Springboks, De Villiers admitted that it is a risky call from Erasmus and his coaching staff.
“Yes it is a little bit risky, but underestimate this Springboks team at your own peril, eight Rugby World Cup winners on the bench,” he added.
“And you can’t underestimate a team with Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am and Pieter-Steph du Toit there is just so much experience in that squad so I think it is exciting times.”
