Erasmus explains Springboks’ late front-row switch against All Blacks

Rassie Erasmus says a late change in the weather forecast prompted him to replace the entire Springboks front row just an hour before Saturday’s 33-26 victory over the All Blacks in Cape Town.

South Africa had initially expected rain throughout the match and selected a heavier front row for the opening stages. But when the forecast changed to dry conditions shortly before kick-off, Erasmus decided a lighter combination would be better suited to the pitch.

“We thought it was going to be wet and that’s why we picked the front row,” Erasmus explained to reporters after the match.

“The whole weather prediction the whole week was going to be wet, and we thought then we’ll need a more heavier front row for the first half of the game.

“We were always going to use two front rows, but then closer to the game it came, the weather said it’s going to be dry, and then we felt our front row that’s a little bit lighter would be better on the dry field.”

Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit had originally been named among the replacements, but were promoted into the starting XV shortly before the match. Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw moved in the opposite direction and began the game on the bench.

The decision was the latest in a series of changes to the Springboks’ line-up during a week of uncertainty.

When the team was first announced on Monday, Siya Kolisi and Paul de Villiers were bracketed at number six. Erasmus said that arrangement was precautionary, with Kolisi required to complete training before being confirmed in the starting side. He subsequently came through training and returned to the XV.

Erasmus had also left open the possibility of selecting Cheslin Kolbe if the winger could demonstrate his fitness. Kolbe was brought into the team on Friday, replacing Kurt-Lee Arendse.

The wholesale front-row alteration on Saturday was the most unexpected change, but it produced the desired result. South Africa led 24-14 at half-time before withstanding a second-half fightback to secure victory and level the four-Test series at 1-1.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said New Zealand had not been particularly concerned by the late reshuffle.

“We stuck with the team we named. And look, it doesn’t worry me at all,” he told reporters after the match.

“I guess when you name a team on Monday, there’s a chance that there’s going to be changes. So to be fair, look, we took minimal notice of the team on Monday, because there’s a chance that it’s going to be different on Saturday.

“Yeah, there’s the odd player, obviously, you know, Cheslin [Kolbe] comes in, but they’re both excellent players, aren’t they? And so it’s not a hell of a lot of difference.

“So they lose a lock, they bring another lock, and they’re all pretty similar. So I think regardless of who they name on Monday, the game plan is going to be the same.”

Rennie’s comments indicate that the All Blacks were not overly troubled by South Africa’s late selection move. Attention now turns to the third Test in Johannesburg, where Erasmus may have further surprises in store.