Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has opted for an uncharacteristically late team announcement ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Championship showdown at Eden Park, aiming to level the mental playing field with the All Blacks.
Instead of disclosing his starting XV early in the week as is customary for the South Africa head coach, Erasmus will hold off until Thursday evening (18:00 NZ / 07:00 UK time), in the same window when New Zealand are expected to name their match-day 23.
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“Yeah, it’s a tough one for us,” Erasmus conceded when asked why he was withholding details. “That’s why I was honest in saying that’s why we’re only announcing our team on Thursday.”
The move is born out of mutual uncertainty. With both teams facing fitness doubts, and mounting injury lists, Erasmus admits the Boks have only a brief idea of who New Zealand will field. The All Blacks allowed an array of their players to return back to the National Provincial Championship this past weekend, given that The Rugby Championship had a fallow week.
However, centre Timoci Tavatavanawai has now been ruled out of the remainder of the competition after fracturing his radius while playing for Tasman. This is the latest injury issue faced by the All Blacks, with a revolving door seemingly fixed to New Zealand’s medical wards. Erasmus is certainly having a tough time when predicitng how his opponents will line up, for this Saturday’s clash in Auckland.
The All Blacks are still sweating on the fitness of scrum half Cortez Ratima, who suffered a rib fracture against Argentina, and fellow half-backs Cam Roigard (foot) and Noah Hotham (ankle) who are also both sidelined. Anton Lienert-Brown was cleared to return from his concussion and prop Tyrel Lomax is also back in contention following a hand fracture.
Flying wing Caleb Clarke (ankle) and Luke Jacobson (thigh) are also fit again after their brief injury lay offs, but the duo will only be available from the second Test against the Springboks in Wellington. Lock Sam Darry has joined the squad as injury cover, with Patrick Tuipulotu ruled out for four weeks, following surgery on a facial fracture.
“They are a team that thoroughly analysis.” Erasmus explained. “We are very unsure on what team they will put out. We are really not sure,” he said. “There will be a little bit of an unknown in both teams going into this match, and I guess by only announcing it on Thursday, it’s a little bit more evened out – that we all have to do a little bit of extra work and guessing.”
Some might see the tactic as mind games, however Erasmus disagrees, saying that all the players know their roles well before game day. The Springbok head coach noted that speculation in public circles and outside noise can be more detrimental to his team, than in any way helpful.
“People see everything as mind games. But internally, the guys know on Sunday evening already who will play and who is bracketed with whom,”
With the All Blacks undefeated at Eden Park since 1994, the psychological edge is everything for this weekend’s Rugby Championship showdown. As Erasmus put it: announcing the team later “is what we think is best for the team and what might give us a little bit of an edge.” as all eyes turn to Auckland for the blockbuster third round of the competition.
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