Why Rassie chose to stick with Willie
It might have something to do with S'bu Nkosi and Makazole Mapimpi's potency...
South Africa’s full back Willie Le Roux takes part in a training session at Fuchu Asahi Football Park in Tokyo on October 24, 2019, ahead of their Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final against Wales. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)
You don’t throw away the experience of 59 Test caps.
That’s Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ simple rationale for sticking with Willie le Roux at fullback for Sunday’s World Cup semifinal against Wales in Yokohama.
The 30-year-old playmaker has been one of very few questionable selections in South Africa’s campaign, a situation exacerbated by his poor showing in last week’s quarterfinal against Japan.
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Yet Cheslin Kolbe’s injury-enforced absence has made Erasmus feel a tad uncomfortable with the amount of experience of his back three.
S’bu Nkosi, Kolbe’s replacement, has only played 10 Tests, while his partner on the left wing, Makazole Mapimpi, boasts 12 caps.
“While they are not very experienced, they are doing the job,” Erasmus said on Thursday.
“And that’s why having a calm head with Willie at the back is necessary, even though I know that’s copping a bit of flack lately, which we all understand why. But having a calm head between the two wings in the semifinal is pretty important. Willie’s influence in many aspects of the game – such as defence, the kicking game, helping calm the nerves – will be needed.”
The Bok mentor clearly hopes Le Roux’s savvy and willingness to absorb pressure will allow Nkosi and Mapimpi to pursue their attacking games more freely.
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It’s a decent argument to make given that the two wingers have been potent try-scorers in the Green-and-Gold, scoring 21 tries between them already.
“We all know that wings are there to score tries. Since we started playing rugby, we all knew that the wings were the guys who are supposed to score tries,” said Erasmus.
“Currently it’s happening in our team, and it’s great that it’s happening. It’s great that we are getting the ball to the wings, and that they are scoring tries. Sbu has got a great try-scoring record. Cheslin has a good try-scoring record. Aphiwe Dyantyi had one too, when he was playing, and Makazole has the same.”
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