Rassie Erasmus defends changes against Australia
- Rassie Erasmus made ten changes to the South Africa team against Australia.
- The changes were defended by Erasmus as not disrespectful.
- The adjustments were made for the Rugby Championship meetings.
South Africa rugby coach Rassie Erasmus has publicly defended his decision to make ten changes to the Springboks' lineup for their upcoming rematch against Australia, emphasizing that the alterations are not a sign of disrespect towards the Wallabies. Following a commanding 33-7 victory in Brisbane, Erasmus is keen to assess the depth of his squad, leaving out several key players, including captain Siya Kolisi, for the match in Perth. Despite the significant changes, Erasmus insists that the team remains competitive, with 14 World Cup winners still in the mix. Only two players from the previous match will retain their starting positions in the forward pack. He stated, “This is us picking a team that we feel is good enough to still get us the win,” acknowledging the challenge posed by an Australian side eager to bounce back from their recent defeat. Among the players maintaining their spots are Cheslin Kolbe and Pieter-Steph du Toit, while newcomers Morne van den Berg and Ruan Nortje are set to make their first starts. Salmaan Moerat will captain the side for the first time, as Erasmus emphasizes the importance of winning the Rugby Championship and building momentum towards the next World Cup. In response, Australia captain Allan Alaalatoa described the previous loss as a “tough learning” experience for his team, which had previously enjoyed a successful start to the season. Coach Joe Schmidt has made several adjustments to the Wallabies lineup, welcoming back key players Angus Bell and Marika Koroibete.