Erasmus rings changes but Boks stay stacked with experience for Italy clash

The Springbok team named on Thursday to play Italy features multiple changes from the combination that overwhelmed France last week, yet it remains richly experienced as coach Rassie Erasmus’ rotation policy continues to pay dividends.

After the Boks outclassed France, pundits have been queuing up to praise the South Africans — including renowned Bok critics such as John Kirwan (the former All Black) and Matt Williams (the former Scotland coach). The Boks are the talk of the rugby world as the always intriguing November battle between the northern and southern hemispheres intensifies.

Suddenly, critics north of the equator have gone from grudging respect to borderline sycophantic praise after the South Africans looked at France’s “revenge dish best served cold” — and sent it back to the kitchen.

The rugby world will raise eyebrows at Erasmus’s 11 changes to the run-on side that beat France — with just one alteration on the bench — but the Boks have not disrespected Italy.

The reality is that, despite Erasmus resting senior players ahead of next week’s tour climax against Ireland, his match-day 23 totals 670 caps. This reflects the rich harvest produced by the coach’s rotation policy.

Looking at the backline, Handré Pollard leads a combination that has enterprise emblazoned all over it. It starts with Pollard’s half-back partner, Morné van den Berg, who has a bright future for the Boks at 28, having scored three tries in his four Tests.

The midfield of Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie screams promise, and this duo could well succeed Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel after the 2027 World Cup.

The big question is whether Pollard can ignite a backline completed by an attacking back three of wings Edwill van der Merwe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, and fullback Damian Willemse. There is plenty of adventure in that backline, and Pollard knows he must show attack coach Tony Brown that he can convert promise into points.

Pollard last started for the Boks in the Eden Park defeat to the All Blacks. Since then, it has been the Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok show as the Boks went on to win the Rugby Championship.

It is strange to consider that Pollard — the hero of the last World Cup with his clutch kicking in three successive play-off games — is now the third-choice fly-half, but he has an opportunity on Saturday to change the status quo.

As the Boks eye a third successive World Cup triumph in 2027, Pollard knows that the new reality is for South Africa to win matches through tries rather than last-gasp kicks.

A massive plus for this revamped Bok team is the presence of Siya Kolisi at openside flank. We can be certain that if Kolisi had played most of the match against France, he would have been rested for this fixture, but the silver lining to the Lood de Jager suspension cloud is that Kolisi played only 38 minutes in Paris.

Kolisi was withdrawn at the Stade de France because his team needed a line-out specialist to replace De Jager, with Ruan Nortjé coming on for him.

Nortjé is on the bench this week as part of an exceptional Bomb Squad, alongside RG Snyman, Wilco Louw, Gerhard Steenekamp, André Esterhuizen and Kwagga Smith. Also among the replacements are livewires Grant Williams and Libbok, ensuring the customary fourth-quarter charge from the Boks remains in good order.

ITALY v SOUTH AFRICA | Matchday 23s

Springbok starting XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Marco van Staden, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Boan Venter; Replacements: 16 Gerhard Steenekamp, 17 Wilco Louw, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Ruan Nortjé, 20 André Esterhuizen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok

Italy starting XV: 15 Ange Capuozzo; 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane; 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney; 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Ross Vintcent; 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti; Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 David Odiase, 22 Martin Page-Relo, 23 Tommaso Allan