What will Bok coach Rassie Erasmus do about outside centre on the end-of-year-tour?

The Rugby Championship-winning Springboks are closing in on their November tour to Europe.

With a short United Rugby Championship break, they resume action with a five-match tour. What has Rassie Erasmus learned that he can take into the end-of-year campaign?

Sacha FM blares loud and clear

In 2023, no rugby player would have imagined that Handré Pollard would, in two years, go from star to third-choice flyhalf behind Sacha Fynn and Manie Libbok.

That is the reality.

Erasmus’ rotation policy has thrown the flyhalf selection open, with the best man prevailing. This is not to say that Pollard can’t have a “2023” and lead the Boks to World Cup glory in 2027. He will be there — form dips and injuries happen.

Attack is cool, but rugby is not about charity

When the Boks go to Europe, the Christmas lights will dazzle in cities such as Dublin, Paris, London, Cardiff and Edinburgh, but Rassie Erasmus will not be in a gift-giving mood like his team was in the Rugby Championship.

South Africa are working to expand their attacking game, and growing pains were evident, but against France and Ireland, they cannot afford to gift an easy 14 points per game as they did in the Championship.

Set-piece splendour

The Springboks’ set piece in the Rugby Championship was simply monstrous. In the scrums, the plan of starting Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx and Oc Nche, followed by reinforcements like Wilco Louw and Jan-Hendrik Wessels, proved too hot for opponents.

Louw alone won penalty after penalty. Line-outs began shakily but stabilised under the underrated Ruan Nortje. Lood de Jager will add further menace on the tour.

November or bust

The November tour would usually offer Erasmus the chance to rest senior players, but that will not be the case this year. The ultra-important World Rugby rankings, ahead of the December draw for the 2027 World Cup, are at stake. Erasmus will pick his best players, knowing that a No 1 ranking in December could mean an easier pool draw for South Africa in two years.

No 13 — lucky for some…

The outside centre position remains unsettled. Let’s see who Erasmus gives chances to on the tour. Jesse Kriel started the international season as captain, following strong performances since the last World Cup.

However, the joy of Rassie’s rotation system is that others get opportunities. Canan Moodie impressed initially in the Championship but faded in later games. The door is open for Kriel to reclaim the jersey.

And is Lukhanyo Am done?

That question will hang over the squad as selections are made.