Springbok to call back power stars for next saturdays test against italy in turin
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus could recall Handre Pollard and Ethan Hooker for next Saturday’s Test against Italy in Turin.
In the last five Tests, Erasmus has opted for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu as his starting 10 with Manie Libbok deputising off the bench.
The Bok coach has said this is to give both playmakers exposure to high-pressure Test matches as they continue to develop towards the 2027 World Cup.
But in a short interview with SuperSport in the lead-up to the Test against France in Paris, Erasmus suggested that Pollard will get some game time, which has been hard to come by for the double World Cup winner.
Handre is likely to play against Italy with Manie on the bench – or the other way around.
To have the consistency of Handre, a player who knows and understands what he’s doing and is only 31 years old. If you compare him to [former Ireland flyhalf] Johnny Sexton – he could still play two more World Cups.”
Erasmus is also likely to give Hooker a start, but in his preferred position of 12 and not on the wing where he has featured for the Boks this year.
“Maybe we give Ethan some playing time at 12 with Canan [Moodie] at 13,” he said.
Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks’ 32-17 win over France in Paris was built on selfless decisions, calm thinking and sheer grit after Lood de Jager’s red card left them with 14 men for the entire second half.
Theworld champions stunned Les Bleus at the Stade de France on Saturday night, delivering one of their most composed away performances in recent years.
Erasmus praised his players for staying disciplined under pressure, and for making tough calls in the heat of battle.
Our captain in his 100th game being taken off because we had to get Andre [Esterhuizen] on who can play loose forward and centre depending on whether we have a scrum or a lineout, so a tough call for a captain to go off at half time,” Erasmus explained.
