Three Springboks with everything to gain against Wallabies
However, there are still some big opportunities for a few 'fringe' players, and here we look at three who can truly shake things up with a big performance.
Edwill van der Merwe
The talented wing has made a flying start to his Test career, but there is no doubt that this Saturday's Test against the Wallabies will present his biggest challenge to date. With Cheslin Kolbe rested as a precaution due to an injury niggle, Van der Merwe must make the most of this rare opportunity to don the No 14 in such a high-profile fixture, and to prove that there is not all that much that separates him from his first-choice counterparts.
Andre Esterhuizen
In rapid fashion, Esterhuizen has become an integral member of the current Springbok group, particularly due to the fact he is viewed as a unique hybrid player who can cover centre and flank. Damian de Allende is virtually irreplaceable at inside centre, but this is another game where Esterhuizen can demonstrate just how much he has progressed as a player over the last 24 months, while ramping up the competition for that No 12 jersey.
Marco van Staden
With Siya Kolisi owning the No 6 jersey, the opportunity for Van Staden to earn a start in a 'big' game like this came as quite a surprise as the Springbok captain was instead shifted to eighthman. Van Staden has clearly been chosen for his impact at the breakdown, and to negate some of the Wallabies' threats in this area, and so it will be fascinating to see how he grabs this opportunity especially considering it surely won't be all that long before Kolisi returns to his more regular position at openside flank.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs: Ex-Pirates duo of Mako and Monyane's expectations
Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Cedric Kaze has touched on recruitment at the club and how Paseka Mako and Thabiso Monyane are treated no differently. The duo were signed after parting ways with Orlando Pirates in June. Some fans have were under the impression that Amakhosi only signed the two players because they were from Pirates. Kaze though, rubbished the claims, saying the club signs quality players who can fit into their system. Both players have already made their debuts for Kaizer Chiefs this season. 'When you recruit a player, you don't recruit a player differently because he comes from the other side [Pirates]. You recruit a player because of the quality that he has and the work that you see he could be able to do to help the team,' Kaze said, as quoted by SPORTSWIRE . 'I believe that they have already experienced the pressure where they come from, the amount of pressure that we have. It's not only one team, but there are also a lot of teams that are big clubs, and when you come from a big club, then you know the expectations,' he added. Kaizer Chiefs have been the team to watch this season, having won back-to-back league matches and currently top the Betway Premiership. 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
4 hours ago
- IOL News
'We will have to take a step up from the Lions series to beat the Springboks', says Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt
'But for us, we are a little bit earlier in our time as a group to be focusing on anything but getting the fundamentals right, and not trying and push the boundaries too much.' 'I am an admirer of Tony; he is very innovative, so are Felix and Rassie. The three of them must have some interesting coaching meetings where they come up with good ideas. If anybody has a recording of those meetings, I'd love to get them,' Schmidt laughed. Schmidt, a New Zealander, knows former All Black Brown well, while as director of rugby at the Ireland Rugby Union, he regularly met with Munster men in Erasmus, Jones, and defence coach Jerry Flannery. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says he would love to be a fly on the wall when Rassie Erasmus has his coaching meetings with innovative assistants Tony Brown and Felix Jones. Erasmus, of course, pushes boundaries every week. Schmidt is mostly okay with it. 'Sometimes he stretches things a bit far, like having a guy offside at the kick-off, and that has been dealt with by World Rugby as an intentional breach of the rules. 'Rassie is a great man for testing the boundaries. And if you do that and get a tactical advantage, with the athletes he has at his disposal, why not?' The Wallabies are fresh from a colossal series against the British and Irish Lions, and Schmidt is pleased with his team's progression across the three Tests. 'We put things in place, and to polish up on detail is the plan. At least we would like to be able to do that,' he grinned. 'We would like to build after a good improvement across the Lions series. 'The thing is, the Boks have grown their game. Tony has added width to their attack. I expect them to be very strong in the set pieces, as they always are; their kick-chase game is strong; from turnovers, they have lethal finishers in (Kurt-Lee) Arendse, (Edwill) van der Merwe, and (Aphelele) Fassi. Then you have strong men in (Jesse) Kriel and (Andre) Esterhuizen. 'I remember two years ago, I was working with the All Blacks, and I watched this game between the Boks and Australia. Esterhuizen was a colossus and very difficult for the Aussies to contain.' Schmidt said he is a fan of Manie Libbok. 'I recall clearly that no-look, kick-pass of Libbok's against Scotland in the World Cup. That is the abundance of talent that they have. They can play in so many different ways. They can outmuscle you, they can outspeed you, and out-skill you. 'We have to be a lot better than we were in that last Lions Test, not just because of who we are playing but where we are.' Schmidt has made just one change to his side that beat the Lions in that last Test, recalling veteran James O'Connor at fly-half. Wallabies Team 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper. Bench: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Andrew Kellaway.
TimesLIVE
5 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Van der Merwe says a try would be a bonus against Wallabies but is not vital
Rugby Given another shot to add to his three Springbok appearances, winger Edwill van der Merwe is not motivated by increasing his try scoring record but in helping the team start the Rugby Championship on a winning note. Van der Merwe will start against Australia in what is expected to be a packed Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday to add to the Test matches he has featured in against Wales, Italy and Georgia. In those three Tests, the speedy trickster has made a strong statement by scoring five tries and he is excited to be back at a venue he used to call home as a Lions player. Coach Rassie Erasmus picked Van der Merwe in the place of Cheslin Kolbe, who has been given an extra week of training after recovering from injury, and he is not perturbed about trying to fill the boots of the World Cup winner. 'I am excited about the opportunity to play against Australia and to take the field in a Test for the first time at Ellis Park,' said Van der Merwe. 'This is an opportunity and a new challenge to improve my game. That's where my focus is presently. There's an expectation that if you play for the Springboks and it is hard to become one and equally hard to stay here. 'So each day we go onto the field, training is a challenge and an opportunity to improve, and the key for me is to be able to say that with each session I got better. Scoring a try will be a bonus [but] I am more focused on my position in the system.' On what he expected against the Wallabies, Van der Merwe said they have improved in recent times. 'I have always watched and heard about the rivalry between the teams, so it's going to be special to play against them. They are a big and physical team who started building momentum against the British and Irish Lions in Australia and they have improved a lot. 'I expect the breakdown to be a focus point in the Test and I am looking forward to it.' Having scored five tries already in his short international career, Van der Merwe is not under pressure increase his tally. 'There is no pressure on me to score tries, but rather to ensure that I am accurate in implementing what the coaches want me to do. Scoring tries would be a bonus. 'The main challenge is to make the right decisions, both on attack and defence, especially against the stronger teams that have more experience.'
