Erasmus rings the changes as Springboks seek redemption in Wellington

While Rassie Erasmus says he has not pushed the panic button in picking a brand new backline to play the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday, some of his selections were performance-related.

The Boks lost 24-17 in Auckland last week, and for the return Test, only Cheslin Kolbe remains in his position, although Canan Moodie also continues, shifting from left wing to outside centre.

Aphelele Fassi replaces Willie le Roux in a selection that appears form-related; Ethan Hooker comes in on the wing for Moodie; the Old Firm centre pairing of Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende makes way for Damian Willemse and Moodie; and in the half-backs, Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu take over from Grant Williams and Handré Pollard.

Erasmus was pressed on which of those changes were triggered by disappointing performances at Eden Park and which had been pre-planned, regardless of the result.

“Not a lot of players get the opportunity to play in New Zealand,” he said, before pointing out that the All Blacks tour South Africa next year, meaning the next chance to play in New Zealand will only come in 2027.

“The plan was to win and then let other players experience the pressure of playing the top-ranked team in the world on their home soil. Maybe not so many, but we would have made changes anyway.

"Asking me if players forced my hand by playing badly… That is a very loaded question,” the coach smiled. "And if I say yes, you are probably going to ask who.”

Erasmus sidestepped the question by saying that the team in general did not cover themselves in glory.

“We know that a lot of guys did not play well,” Erasmus said.

“Just like there were a lot of coaches who did not coach well last week, including myself. Maybe the best way to answer that question is to say that I thought the guys that came on brought a lot of energy and fight.”

Reinach, Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Hooker unquestionably made an impact when they came on with half an hour to go, and that is why they have been picked to start this week.

“I felt like this game was similar to when we lost to Ireland at the last World Cup,” Erasmus continued.

“We did not have a good start and then fought hard in the second half to finish strongly, but could not get the win. After 15 minutes in Auckland, we were 0-14 down. And then the All Blacks only scored another 10 points.

“That is irrelevant, because we still lost the game, and that is the bottom line. However, the energy provided by the guys who came on may have changed my mind.

“We want to get some energetic guys onto the field that have never played here in New Zealand before.

“If we win this game, we are back in the Rugby Championship mix, still alright in the world rankings and maybe will go back to number one.

“So it is a bit of both — some players, like some coaches, disappointed. However, I don’t think it was through a lack of effort.”

Springbok matchday 23 v New Zealand

Starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Cheslin Kolbe 13 Canan Moodie 12 Damian Willemse 11 Ethan Hooker 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 9 Cobus Reinach 8 Jasper Wiese 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit 6 Siya Kolisi (capt) 5 Ruan Nortje 4 Lood de Jager 3 Thomas du Toit 2 Malcolm Marx 1 Ox Nche; Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels 18 Wilco Louw 19 RG Snyman 20 Kwagga Smith 21 Grant Williams 22 Manie Libbok 23 Andre Esterhuizen