The Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus, has insisted his team for the weekend’s Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies in Perth is good enough to make it back-to-back wins, and by no means are they being nonchalant.

Erasmus made ten changes and one positional switch to the team that thumped the Wallabies 33-7 in Brisbane last week. This came as a surprise to many as there were no real injuries to speak of, but the world champions rather wanted to give all the players on tour some game time. 

In a sense, with the Boks claiming the big win in Brisbane and with two massive Tests awaiting against the All Blacks, there is no real reward in the risk of injury to key players.

Erasmus said he backs the ability of the team and viewing them as so-called second-stringers is somewhat disrespectful.

“It’s important to win the Rugby Championship and it’s important to build into the next Rugby World Cup and it will be fantastic to win the Championship,” said Erasmus.

“I think it would be a slap in the face of the guys who are playing this weekend if we think they aren’t as good as the guys playing last weekend. We trust them fully.

“If they played the team last weekend, the Springbok team, they would give them one hell of a go. It was not easy but we trust everybody and hopefully, we can get the result.”

The former Springbok captain added they’re by no means being disrespectful to their opponents, but rather a case of his belief in the ability of the squad and the depth of Springbok rugby.

Johan Grobbelaar and Makazole Mapimpi. Photo: Morgan Piek

“If you look at this team, there are 14 Rugby World Cup winners and there are only two guys who are new, so this is not disrespect to Australia and this is not us feeling nonchalant about the game.

“This is us picking a team that we feel is good enough to still get us the win. Although, it will be really tough against a team that wants to bounce back.” 

Saturday’s Test between the Wallabies and Springboks in Perth kicks off at 11:45.

Wallabies – TBA

Springboks –15 Aphelele Fassie, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels

Replacements – 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Kock, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Handré Pollard

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg