SPRINGBOKS
Leighton Koopman|Published
Rassie Erasmus will be watching the final round of United Rugby Championship (URC) action before the November international break with one eye firmly closed as he hopes to avoid further injury setbacks ahead of the Springboks’ Tests against Italy, Ireland and France.
The Bok coach will be desperate for his locally based internationals to come through the weekend unscathed as South Africa prepare for three tough assignments in Europe to close out their international season.
Erasmus will be hoping some franchises wrap their Springboks in cotton wool for the final round, preserving their key players for the upcoming Nations Championship Tests.
However, that luxury is not available to everyone, with the Lions and Sharks needing all their firepower on their overseas tours as they look to secure valuable victories in Scotland and Ireland. The Stormers and Bulls, meanwhile, have the advantage of playing at home against Ulster and Scarlets, potentially giving them more room to manage their squads and rest some international stars if circumstances allow.
But with several Springboks already sidelined, Erasmus will be particularly anxious to avoid further casualties.
Hybrid back André Esterhuizen (ankle) and flyhalf Handré Pollard (hamstring) are among those injured in URC games, while the Stormers’ hooker stocks have taken a hit with injuries to André-Hugo Venter (elbow) and veteran Deon Fourie (hamstring). Loose forward Ben-Jason Dixon is also dealing with concussion, while locks Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman, along with utility forward Kwagga Smith, and utility back Cheslin Kolbe are other seniors on the sidelines.
The situation could force Erasmus and his coaching staff to consider fresh options for the European tour, potentially opening the door for new faces to earn a call-up. Their selection plans, however, could depend on how the final URC fixtures unfold and whether any further injuries emerge.
The remaining matches carry their own importance, leaving the four South African franchises with different priorities heading into the weekend.
The Lions and Sharks will be keen to finish their tours strongly, with challenging encounters against Glasgow Warriors and Munster respectively. Both sides will need their leading players firing if they are to return home with positive results.
At home, the Stormers and Bulls could have greater flexibility to rotate their squads, although the demands of the competition may limit their options. The Cape side could give flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu a rest to preserve him for the internationals, especially considering the injury Pollard picked up.
For Erasmus, however, the URC results will be secondary to the condition of his players when the final whistle blows. While the Boks are not dictating to the franchises when to rest which player, Erasmus and his coaches will still hope that there is a cautious approach to using the Springboks and fringe players he is set to include.
With Italy, France and Ireland waiting, the Springboks need their available key men fit and firing. After an injury-hit build-up, Erasmus will be hoping the final URC weekend brings more relief in terms of more strong performances from Bok contenders than bad news.