Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has announced his team for Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener against Australia in Brisbane, highlighting two key selections: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starting at flyhalf and Elrigh Louw at No 8.
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This will be Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s first start in a Springbok jersey, while Louw will also make his debut as a starter, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has impressed off the bench, is chosen ahead of veteran Handre Pollard, who will provide backline cover from the bench. Louw, having made four appearances as a substitute since his debut in 2022, will start at No 8.
Erasmus has largely returned to the squad that played in the recent two-Test series against Ireland. The match-day squad sees only three changes from the group that faced the Irish, with Louw, two-time Rugby World Cup-winning scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, and utility forward Ben-Jason Dixon being the new additions.
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Six players from the 64-21 win over Portugal remain in the squad: Louw, Reinach, Dixon, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, RG Snyman (lock), and Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing). Reinach will continue in the No 9 position, replacing Faf de Klerk, who is dealing with a minor injury. Grant Williams will be the backline reserve, covering both scrumhalf and wing, with Erasmus opting for a six-two forwards-backs bench split.
Erasmus expressed his enthusiasm about Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Louw’s first starts.
‘Sacha has made a notable impact off the bench in all four Tests he has played so far, and he’s slotted into the system with ease, so we are excited to see what dynamic he adds to the team as a starter. His goal-kicking has also been impressive, and we know that against teams like Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina, the margins are very small, so every point will count.’
Regarding Louw, Erasmus said, ‘We’re also keen to see what Elrigh brings to the game, given his consistently strong performances for the Bulls in the last few seasons and off the bench against Portugal. With Pieter-Steph (du Toit) and Siya (Kolisi) alongside him, he’ll have good guidance to play to his strengths and do what he does best.’
Erasmus anticipates a tough challenge against the Wallabies, noting that the Boks haven’t won in Brisbane since 2013.
‘We only face the southern hemisphere teams in the Rugby Championship now, so we know they’ll pose a completely different challenge to the sides we’ve faced to date,’ he said.
‘They are also playing on their home turf where they have a good track record against us in the last few years, so we know it’s going to be a massive challenge.’
He added, ‘The fact that they are facing the world champions at home and knowing full well that they are hosting the 2027 World Cup will also inspire them, while we also have no doubt that they are desperate to climb the world rankings. They are a well-coached team with good playmakers, so they’ll definitely be charged up for Saturday’s match-up.’
Erasmus emphasised the importance of starting strong in the Rugby Championship.
‘We have a challenging campaign with two away games against Australia and then two Tests against New Zealand at home before making a short trip to Santiago where we will face Argentina, and then we wrap up the tournament against Los Pumas in Nelspruit, so it will be vital for us to start well and build good momentum.’
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Picture: Anton Geyser / Gallo Images