
Rassie: Boks ‘far from perfect' but in a good place after 4-game experiments
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus discusses what he thought of Cobus Wiese's performance at No 8, as well as that of the three debutants. Picture: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said the overall picture was far from perfect, but the experiments and tricks conducted in the squads and on the field during the first four matches of the season highlighted much potential.
The Springboks featured close to 50 players, including seven Test debutants, in these opening games. Within 22 days, the Springboks beat the Barbarians 54–7 in a non-Test, Italy 42–24 and 45–0 in two Tests, and then Georgia 55–10 in the latest Test match in Mbombela on Saturday.
Tricks and experiments galore
Fans did not wait long to see Erasmus continue his trademark innovation, as traditional centre André Esterhuizen packed down at flank in the opening game against the Barbarians. A 'hybrid player', Esterhuizen played flank in attack and dropped to centre in defence.
Then, in the second Test against Italy, the Boks played a short kick-off to induce a scrum, and the midfield 'fake lineout' maul from open play. The latter yielded greater results, after World Rugby deemed the former an intentional infringement.
The Springboks employed no tricks in the Georgia Test but named three uncapped players in the front row – an extreme rarity in its own right – and played Cobus Wiese at No 8 though he (just his second Test) had never played there in all his professional career.
Erasmus said after the 40-point thrashing that he was 'fairly happy' with how the season had gone so far, building up to the Rugby Championship next month.
'The laws are the same for everybody. We want to adapt the quickest, faster than any other country. That's what Jaco Peyper teaches us. If there's a new law, we adapt to it,' Erasmus said, snapping his fingers.
Where Cobus Wiese fits into the Springboks
The Bok coach said they had blooded players to be three-deep in each position and tested them in various roles for cover.
'But if we chop and change teams we are building squad depth but lose rhythm. I am glad the guys could, in the last 25 minutes, get some rhythm into the game,' he said after the Georgia win.
'Cobus Wiese … we just want to make sure that if we have a guy like him on the bench he can cover seven and eight for us.
'We learned a lot from Cobus today. And I think he learned a lot from Test match rugby. He's definitely not Jasper yet. I think there are definitely areas where a guy like Evan [Roos] still tops him. But it's his first Test match that he starts at eight and I thought he was pretty solid.'
How the three Springbok debutants did against Georgia
On the three debutants (props Boan Venter and Neethling Fouché, and hooker Marnus van der Merwe), Erasmus said they had gained momentum in the scrums as the game went on, but made tactical errors in gameplay that were common to new players. These would be ironed out.
'They did well in the scrums but they had some errors in attack, being in the right places, cleanouts, ball carries and so on. We've given them 45, 46 minutes and we've seen enough. The scrums were solid enough and we can fix the general play stuff with them.'
Erasmus said it was a positive that the Boks won three games convincingly, tested combinations and tricks, and stayed cohesive on defence despite the new faces.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Beefy Bartho Hlekani can fill a big hole for Lions after injury blow against the Sharks in Currie Cup
Angelo Davids of the Lions scores, despite the attentions of Phiko Sobahle of the Sharks at Emirates Airline Park this past weekend. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The Lions' handsome 46-5 Currie Cup victory over the Sharks came at a cost, with flank Izan Esterhuizen suffering a serious injury. However, this setback could be offset by the timely arrival of burly Bathobele Hlekani, a Junior Springbok who made a huge impact in Italy. Hlekani has been with the Sharks but, curiously, has slipped out of their net. His signature is a significant coup for a Lions squad that usually sees players going the other way — to Durban, as has been the recent case with Springbok Edwill van der Merwe and Emmanuel Tshituka. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Hlekani was one of three players from the victorious Junior Bok side at the World U20 Championship to be invited to train with the Springboks. Lions coach Mzwakhe Nkosi said they would like Hlekani to join them pronto. 'Izan's injury looks like a season-ender,' Nkosi said. 'We will try and get Batho to Joburg sooner rather than later. Yeah, he's probably out for the season, so we have to scramble hard. I just spoke to the CEO; we will have to source another openside flanker as soon as possible,' the coach added. The Lions outclassed a Sharks side that was packed with newcomers. With ball in hand, Bathobele Hlekani drives forward, a formidable force who will soon bring his Junior Springbok power and talent to the Lions' pack. Photo: World Rugby Image: World Rugby 'I wouldn't say we were a more experienced side, but we are probably more settled,' Nkosi said. 'Nico Steyn just turned 22, and Jarrod Cairns has only just turned 23. SJ Kotze is still 21; RF Schoeman hasn't turned 22 yet. We are probably a whole lot more settled than JP's team (Pietersen's). When SJ came on, I thought he made a difference.' 'I am happy with the level of performance,' Nkosi continued. 'We were a bit apprehensive. We haven't played a game. The Pumas have played two or three, Griquas have played, and Province have played two. "So, we and the Bulls have gone in cold. We were nervous. So it's good that we got the cobwebs out, and also that we got a result like we got.' Nkosi praised the performances of Angelo Davids and Rabs Maxwane, who were constant threats on attack. Davids has joined the Lions from the Stormers. 'If you can have guys like Angelo and Rabs on the edges, you want to get the ball to them sooner rather than later. That's who we are and how we want to play. "Angelo will hit his straps. He must have had three games in two seasons. He has been frustrated; his game hasn't improved at the trajectory that he would have liked. "So, hopefully, before the start of the URC, he can get to a place where he can compete. And obviously, there is a vacancy with the departure of Edwill van der Merwe, so hopefully, he can put his hand up to stake a claim in that URC team.'


The South African
10 hours ago
- The South African
When do the Springboks face the All Blacks?
The Springboks will take on Australia in two home Tests (on 16 and 23 August) to kick off their Rugby Championship campaign, and Rassie Erasmus will know that securing back-to-back victories will be crucial in the context of their title defence. After those two opening games against the Wallabies, Erasmus will announce his squad for the two-match tour to New Zealand, where they will face their arch-rivals at Eden Park in Auckland on 6 September, and the Sky Stadium in Wellington on 13 September respectively. Both of these blockbuster Tests will kick off at 09:05 (SA time). The Springboks will then wrap up their Rugby Championship campaign with Test matches against Argentina in Durban on Saturday 27 September, and in London on 4 October. REMINDER OF THE REMAINING SPRINGBOK SCHEDULE FOR 2025 AND THE DETAILS FOR THE GAMES AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS: 16 August: vs Australia, Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Kick off: 17:10 . . 23 August: vs Australia, DHL Stadium, Cape Town. Kick off: 17:10 . . 6 September: vs New Zealand, Auckland. Kick off: 09:05 . . 13 September: vs New Zealand, Wellington. Kick off: 09:05 . . 27 September: vs Argentina, Kings Park, Durban. Kick off: 17:10 . . 4 October: vs Argentina, London. Kick off: 15:00 . . 1 November: vs Japan, Brighton. Kick off: TBD. 8 November: vs France, Paris. Kick off: 22:10. 15 November: vs Italy, Turin. Kick off: 14:40 22 November: vs Ireland, Dublin. Kick off: 19:40. 29 November: vs Wales, Cardiff. Kick off: 17:10. Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers) Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
Wallabies need to find more 'Valetinis' and 'Skeltons' to compete with Springboks
Australia's Will Skelton squares off with British and Irish Lions players during the second Test. Image: William West / AFP FOR about 75 minutes it looked like Melbourne and the sporting cathedral, the MCG, would again be the Wallabies' lucky charm against a touring British and Irish Lions team. In Australia's past two series against the Lions, in 2001 and 2013, the Wallabies lost the first Test then levelled both in Melbourne. And, when the Aussies galloped into a 23-5 lead in the first half before 90,307, it looked like the Aussies were on their way to a famous victory. But a second-half collapse saw the touring side wrap up the two-Test series with Hugo Keenan's 79th-minute try. It was heartbreaking for a Wallabies team who played some of their best rugby in the last decade in that first half, but had to be content with the 29-26 scoreline at the end. After coming off second best in the first Test - the 27-19 scoreline doesn't really tell the story of the Lions' dominance in Brisbane - the Wallabies stepped up their performance with a combination of brute force and attacking intent. The hosts beefed up their pack for the match, with powerhouse forwards Will Skelton, Rob Valetini and Dave Porecki all back from injury and their presence was huge - helping combat the brutality that helped the Lions win in Brisbane. In that first half Skelton and Valetini carried with a lot of venom, giving the Wallabies' inexperienced back division some front-foot ball to have a go at the Lions. Skelton, particularly also pushed and shoved the visitors and making his presence felt. The Lions were stunned by three tries in eight first-half minutes from Australia's James Slipper, Jake Gordon and Tom Wright. Fullback Wright's try came after he started an attacking move deep in his half. Centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii then cut the Lions defence to shreds before Wright went over to score. That passage of play would not just have had the Lions' coaching staff taking note, but also Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus and his brainstrust ahead of their meeting with the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship next month. Last year against the Springboks, the Wallabies were unable to match the Boks' physicality and got hammered at set-piece time by the South Africans in two Test matches Down Under. But for 40 minutes against a big Lions pack they stepped up and went toe-to-toe in the physicality stakes. However, when Valetini didn't return after the break, and Skelton was subbed off early in the second half, the Wallabies' physical efforts went down to Brisbane levels again. The Lions hammered them at scrum time and started to get more joy at the breakdowns by winning the collisions. The Wallabies hung on for dear life in that second half, and could only manage six more points. The fact of the matter is, for the Wallabies to compete against the Springboks they need loose forward Valetini and lock Skelton to go deep into matches. They don't have the depth the Boks possess to compete physically for 80 minutes. However, it was encouraging to see some fight from the ever-improving Australian team. We saw them grow in confidence during their November tour matches, especially in their win over England that they can compete again. However, they need to find more brutes from somewhere if they are going to trouble the Springboks in two Test matches in South Africa.