Rassie Erasmus Outlines Springboks’ Tactical Approach for Rugby Championship Opener Against Australia
Published on BBC Rugby Union, this article delves into Rassie Erasmus’ strategy as the Springboks head coach prepares his team for the Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies.
Erasmus has once again opted for a 6-2 split in favor of the forwards, with the versatile Ben-Jason Dixon providing cover for the second-row. The experienced Pieter-Steph du Toit is expected to shift to lock, drawing on his previous experience in the position, as the Springboks grapple with injuries to Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert, and Jean Kleyn.
The “Bomb Squad” of Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Vincent Koch will reinforce the front-row, while Grant Williams and Handre Pollard are the two backs on the bench. Erasmus emphasizes the importance of having breakdown specialists like Marx, alongside Smith and Van Staden, to counter the Wallabies’ ball-handling strengths.
“The ‘Bomb Squad’ of Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Vincent Koch will reinforce the front-row, while Grant Williams and Handre Pollard are the two backs on the bench.”
Furthermore, the Springboks head coach reveals that starting lock RG Snyman is in doubt for the clash, with Bulls lock Ruan Nortje potentially stepping into the starting lineup if Snyman is unable to feature. Kwagga Smith’s versatility is also highlighted as a potential option to cover the backline if needed.
Rassie Erasmus’ tactical approach, characterized by the 6-2 split and the versatility of his players, aims to give the Springboks the best chance of overcoming the challenge posed by the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship opener at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
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