The Springbok scrumhalf conundrum

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has commented on his options at scrumhalf ahead of the last Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks at Loftus this weekend saying that he isn’t concerned by the lack of game-time afford to the likes of Embrose Papier, Ivan van Zyl and Ross Cronje.

The starting scrumhalf is always a hotly debated position in the Springbok set-up since the retirement of Fourie du Preez. Faf de Klerk has made the most of his opportunities since his recall and has made the number 9 jersey his own.

However, Erasmus hasn't really built much depth in the position during the Rugby Championship with Faf de Klerk playing almost every single minute of the competition.

At a press conference ahead of the clash with the All Blacks Rassie Erasmus acknowledged that there was a delicate balancing act between risk and reward.

‘We would have liked to give more game time to certain guys, but there’s also a risk if you lose matches and momentum because you’re making changes in a key position, and then the whole train can go off the rails. Sometimes the game is too close and you can’t make those changes.’

Erasmus insisted that he is comfortable with the depth he has in Embrose Papier, Ross Cronjé and Ivan van Zyl.

‘Sometimes people forget that Ross already has quite a few caps to his name [10], and he’s played in pressure situations. So if he has to come into the team, it’s nothing new and we know what we have in him.

‘Then Ivan has been around the squad for a while, and a guy like Embrose too. Even though they haven’t been able to get all that much game time, I think guys like that would have really benefited a lot from being in the camp.’

Erasmus highlighted the importance in De Klerk earning more test experience having played just 19 Tests so and that there is value in building his experience ahead of next year’s World Cup.

‘We’d love to give more game time to the No 9s, but we know the importance of a guy like Faf [playing well], and the benefit of him building experience. He’s someone we want to keep developing through to the World Cup.’

Story via: sarugbymag