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Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth speaks to media at the team hotel in Edinburgh (Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images)
- South Africa’s formidable ‘Bomb Squad’ bench, featuring a 7/1 forwards/backs split, is expected to make a significant impact against Scotland.
- Eben Etzebeth and coach Mzwandile Stick, though, have also emphasised the importance of the starting XV.
- Pieter-Steph du Toit and Siya Kolisi, usually starters, are included as substitutes.
- For more Springbok news, visit our dedicated section.
Edinburgh. – “Maybe we can organise that he jogs back to the hotel after the game, because he’ll still have too much energy.”
Those were the words of Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Who was he talking about? Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Why? Well, because in a rare selection move, South Africa’s 80-minute diesel engine will be starting a Test match on the bench alongside what is surely one of the most destructive ‘Bomb Squads’ the Boks have fielded yet.
In employing a 7/1, forwards/backs split on the splinters, coach Rassie Erasmus has Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Siya Kolisi, Du Toit and Jasper Wiese as his replacement pack.
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Etzebeth’s comments drew a laugh from the room of journalists at the Springbok team hotel in Edinburgh on Sunday, but the enormity of a Test match at Murrayfield is, of course, no laughing matter.
When one of the Scottish scribes in the room referred in a question to this as ‘one of the best benches the history of world rugby’, nobody batted an eyelid.
“It’s going to be exciting what he can do in 30 or 40 minutes or however long he plays,” Etzebeth added, still referring to Du Toit.
Given its star power, it is understandable that so much of the pre-match chat for this clash has centred on the Bok ‘nuke squad’.
But, for both Etzebeth and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, the focus should equally be on the 15 players starting the Test.
“On paper, obviously it’s a good bench. But we always say in this team that a game is never won on paper,” said Etzebeth.
“We’ll see once they come on how they make a difference. The guys on our bench know that it won’t just happen for them. The guys on the Scottish bench also want to make a difference, so it’s up to our guys to bring what they can to the field tomorrow.
“It’s also a big role for the guys starting who don’t always start all the Test matches, so there is a good opportunity to show what they can do when starting against a quality side.”
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Stick agreed.
“If you’re not mentally up for the game, you’re going to get punished,” he offered.
“Hopefully we can start well. From 1-23, everyone has a role to play. For those guys that are starting, they all need to also have a massive impact on the game.”
With so much power on the bench, the starting forwards will know that if they are not up to speed on Sunday, there are players readily available who have proven their ability to get the job done time and time again.
Teams:
Scotland
15 Tom Jordan, 14 Blair Kinghorn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Substitutes: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Jamie Ritchie, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 22 Jasper Wiese, 23 Grant Williams
“I think that’s always the case,” said Etzebeth.
“If the coaching staff in the box see that you’re not really productive on the field anymore, you can get subbed after 10 minutes if you aren’t doing your job. That’s always been there and that will never change.”
It will be a new experience for the likes of Du Toit and Kolisi, who are far more used to starting Tests than they are spending the first half in their tracksuit tops.
“Guys like Pieter-Steph and Siya are not always on the bench, but there are very experienced guys there like Vincent Koch, RG Snyman and Malcolm Marx who make the Bomb Squad a big thing. They’ll welcome those guys in,” added Etzebeth.
Grant Williams, meanwhile, is the only backline cover on the bench and he will cover both scrumhalf and wing.
Kick-off is at 18:10 (SA time).
News24 Sport Editor Lloyd Burnard and Netwerk24 senior rugby writer Stephen Nell are in the United Kingdom following the Springboks on their end-of-year tour.