The Wallabies coach, Joe Schmidt, has rubbished the idea that the Springboks are respectful by having picked a perceived weakened side to face them in Perth on Saturday in the Rugby Championship. 

This comes after the Springboks made ten changes to their side which beat the Wallabies 33-7 last week in Brisbane. Schmidt himself made five changes to his team, of which a couple were injury-enforced.

The Boks, as well as the Wallabies, are both starting to build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup which will be played in Australia.

‘It’s probably the same way we’re trying to work out a broader squad’

Schmidt said he understands why Rassie Erasmus rang the changes and he highlighted the importance of an international coach having to build in the depth of their squad. “It’s probably the same way we’re trying to work out a broader squad at the moment,” said Schmidt.

“I just see them as having been involved in international rugby for ten years, you’ve got to be transitioning your squad. So, there is a necessity around building depth in your squad, and the other thing that my perception would be South Africa has depth. 

“You look at a couple of the Bulls front-rowers in Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels and then you’ve got Thomas du Toit, who’s a big man, you know, a tighthead.”

Schmidt added that the Springboks have got so much depth and this brings confidence in the team and their ability. “I think the element of risk for Rassie is an element of confidence he’s got in his team, not aiming up at something regarding us, and he’s demonstrated that he does like to chop and change a little bit. 

“But there are some guys you notice stay pretty consistent. I don’t see Pieter-Steph du Toit getting too many rests because he’s a freakish athlete, you know, and I think they’ve got about 500 caps on the bench. So, if there are cracks, they’ve got some decent cement to put in them.”

Thomas du Toit. Picture: Morgan Piek

Saturday’s Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth will kick off at 11:45.

Wallabies – 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Angus Bell

Replacements – 16 Billy Pollard, 17 James Slipper, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Seru Uru, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Max Jorgensen

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 cg/mvh