The Springboks’ interchangeable matchday 23s: is it rugby's version of total football or just a case of tinkering gone into overdrive? More to the point, can it bring back home the Rugby World Cup?
Few people have done their bit to bring team announcement press conferences back in vogue more than the Springboks' coaching duo of Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus.
From overinvesting in scrumhalves and skimping on hookers in their World Cup squad of 33; introducing a hitherto unheard of 7-1 split on the bench in their final warm-up game against New Zealand; playing all four scrumhalves in one matchday 23, starting one of them on the wing and having another one cover flyhalf; replacing an injured hooker in the squad with a flyhalf; trialling said 7-1 split in the all-important group game against Ireland; to naming two openside flankers play as the starting...
Even in the build-up to the World Cup, every press conference has been an event as the unlikely figure of Nienaber - possibly the sanest-looking man at the tournament - has put a rational spin on selections which, at face value, have sometimes looked bonkers to outsiders.Get 14 days free to read all our investigative and in-depth journalism. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed.
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