Springboks centre Esterhuizen embraces hybrid role among the forwards
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has spoken at length in the past about developing players for multiple positions, and used Deon Fourie in both the front and back row of the scrum in their Rugby World Cup win in France in 2023.
However, playing a back in the forwards, not due to injury but as a plan that has been months in the making, could usher in a new era for South Africa as Erasmus seeks new ways to keep the four-time World Cup winners at the top of the global game.
He floated the idea to Esterhuizen at the start of the year and it is something they have been working on since.
"I was actually waiting for the conversation to happen, it has been brought up in the past," Esterhuizen, 31, told reporters. "As I get older, you learn how you can slot in everywhere, how you can get yourself into the team more constantly.
"You have to adapt as a player. I said I'd like to try it and I'm looking forward to what it can be. It will help me as a player and obviously it can help the team as well. Hopefully we see more of it in the future."
Erasmus has long championed having players versatile enough to feature in several positions and believes it is an important factor in winning a World Cup.
Not least because, in the Springboks' case, it allows more forwards among replacements to replenish their powerhouse pack and apply pressure on opponents for the full 80 minutes.
Erasmus previously used loose-forward Kwagga Smith as cover on the wing, and says Esterhuizen's emergence as a forward option is simply the reverse of that plan.
"I don't know if you can call him (Esterhuizen) a hybrid, but he is a backline player who can now also play in the forwards," he said.
"If we get injuries, a guy like Andre just gives us an option, because he's been training with both the forwards and the backs."
South Africa begin their international season with the first of two tests against Italy in Pretoria on Saturday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
33 minutes ago
- Reuters
Farrell impressed in patches as Lions steamroller Reds
July 2 (Reuters) - British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell was happy with how his team settled to their task after conceding two early scores as they ran in eight tries to beat the Queensland Reds 52-12 in Brisbane on Wednesday. As against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday, the tourists had their line breached in the first quarter before dominating the contest and running up the score. "Impressive in patches again," Farrell said. "We played some nice rugby after we settled down. I think the first 10 minutes, the Reds started pretty well and we'd a few errors on top of one another. "But I thought we was nice and composed, even though it was a bit stop start for us as far as continuity is concerned. But we ended up playing some nice rugby in the end." Difficulties can be expected when you are bringing players from four nations together over a short period and issues at the restart, handling errors as well as a couple of scrum penalties will not have pleased Farrell. Scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park returned from a glute injury that ruled him out of the loss to Argentina and the win over Western Force, however, working well with Finn Russell in what is expected to be the test halves combination. Once they settled, the Lions looked impressive in attack and defence, holding their opposition scoreless after halftime for the second match in a row. "We weren't happy with the start of our game," said Farrell. "I think we started a little bit better in the second half. And I think the quality of the bench and the example that the benches have set in the other two games has been top draw. "Competition for places, that's what we're after, isn't it? And everyone's got to play right through to the final whistle." The Lions lost scrumhalf Tomos Williams for the remainder of the tour with a hamstring injury and now have concerns over fullback Elliot Daly, who was replaced with what looked like a wrist injury against the Reds. The experienced England outside back has been among the better performers in the first three matches of his fourth Lions tour and scored two tries against the Force.
BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
Stat check
FT: Queensland Reds 12-52 British and Irish LionsTries: 2-8Metres made: 277-536Possession: 49%-51%Territory: 49%-51%Clean breaks: 5-9Defenders beaten: 26-18Turnovers conceded: 13-17Tackles made/attempted: 141/159 - 169/195Penalties conceded: 12-9
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Borthwick warns Pumas over 'heavy favourites' tag
First Test: Argentina v EnglandDate: Saturday 5 July Kick-off: 20:40 BST Venue: Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata Argentina will go into their two-Test home series against a Lions-less England as "heavy favourites" according to the visitors' head coach Steve Pumas, ranked fifth in the world, beat the British and Irish Lions in Dublin last month and have also claimed wins over France, South Africa and New Zealand in the past have never won a series against England but, with home advantage, momentum and the tourists having 13 first-choice players on Lions duty in Australia, they are eyeing a landmark Borthwick has warned opposite number Felipe Contepomi that short odds come with big pressure."This series is terrific for us, it is even more of a challenge for them," Borthwick told Rugby Union Weekly. "Argentina play off the underdog tag, in every single game they go into - they are not underdogs now."Argentina are heavy favourites for these two Tests, that is what they will have to deal with, what their coaching team has to deal with."That is different for them - can they deal with that?"Let's see if we can cause Argentina some problems, see how they enjoy being favourites, and how they handle that. I promise you we are going to give it everything we have got out there." When England last toured Argentina in 2017, Tom Curry and Sam Underhill took advantage of James Haskell, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola's absences, either through Lions duty or injury, to make their 2019, Curry and Underhill were England's first-choice flankers on a run to the Rugby World Cup have 10 uncapped players in their 36-strong squad for the matches in South America and a fixture against the United States in Washington DC on 19 says the step up to Test level in front of fervent Argentine fans will help identify those who can similarly kick on at international level."I am looking forward to seeing these players perform in that kind of atmosphere, in those kind of cauldrons," he added. "Lots of players can play well at club level, but then it is the players who can be Test-match animals - able to perform in the biggest arenas on the most intense stages." 'He is breaking every record we have got' Seb Atkinson is a player Borthwick is particularly interested 23-year-old centre has been a star performer for Gloucester, with only Saracens' number eight Tom Willis carrying over the gainline on more occasions during the Premiership's regular was filmed completing a 'bronco' fitness test in a rapid four minutes and eight seconds earlier this year, external and Borthwick says he has been breaking more records in camp with England."I have enjoyed how he has played for Gloucester," said the Red Roses boss."He has got ball distribution at 12, he is physical in defence, he's a jackal threat, it feels like he has a really good all round skillset and getting to know him, he is very mature, very calm, very confident and very self-assured."And he runs - he is breaking every GPS record we have got."Borthwick names his team for the Saturday's first Test in La Plata on Thursday. The second Test takes place in San Juan the following weekend.
