Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus made some surprising calls for his alignment camp in Pretoria this week.
Toulouse’s former Stormers flank Rynhardt Elstadt and Ulster looseforward Marcell Coetzee are probably the two most unexpected calls, although, rumours of their inclusion have been circling for a while now.
Northampton Saints scrumhalf Cobus Reinach’s inclusion is a must though and I tip my hat to Rassie for that.
The most interesting, to me at least, of the nine players that were called up from their overseas clubs is Francois Steyn.
A centre/fullback at Montpellier in France, it will be interesting to see if Erasmus also views him as a flyhalf option for the Rugby Championship.
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I’m of the opinion that he should be considered as a 'second-five-eight' as the Kiwis say.
That's an inside centre, but with a difference, this time around the player acts as a second flyhalf on the pitch with the ability to spread the ball equally as good and also providing an extra kicking option to that of the of the first-five-eight (flyhalf).
STALWART: Bok inside centre Damian de Allende. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix.
Erasmus used Damian de Allende and Andre Esterhuizen at No.12 last year and while the Stormers stalwart has worked hard at his kicking game this season, he is no certainly Steyn when it comes to putting his boot through the leather.
England have been fairly successful in using George Ford and Owen Farrell, both flyhalves, in the 10/12 channel.
The Springboks have also used Elton Jantjies at 10 and Handre Pollard at 12 later in games.
ENFORCER: Andre Esterhuizen against England.Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters.
That combination also gives them a left/right kicking boot option.
But with Steyn having more experience than Pollard at 12, he would be a more natural choice in this position.
Erasmus might also opt to use the 32-year-old as a fullback, with Damian Willemse, his number two in this position, currently nursing an injury, while Warrick Gelant has also not been 100 percent this season.
If, however, Erasmus plans on using Steyn at No.12, he will have to do so in the Rugby Championship next month.
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With four games left before their World Cup opener against the All Blacks, this move will have to be made in the first match against Australia on July 20 already.