OWN CORRESPONDENT & Reuters, Brisbane | Tuesday 11.45am.
AFTER bizarrely turning down the Springbok captaincy when Gary Teichmann was unavailable for the second Test against Italy, Johan ”Rassie” Erasmus was named the new Springbok captain on Tuesday to face Australia on Saturday.
”At this stage I feel I’m the guy for the job,” said the Cats Super 12 skipper who abdicated the national leadership in favour of Crone Krige, now out for the rest of the year with a severe knee injury, last month. Krige, Erasmus said, was a more suitable skipper after being in a captaincy role throughout his career.
Erasmus is the seventh Springbok captain since isolation ended in 1992 after Naas Botha, Francois Pienaar, Tiaan Strauss, Adriaan Richter, Teichmann and Krige. And, he thinks the Springboks can discard their underdog status.
”We were the underdogs against the All Blacks, but not by 28 points. I spoke to some of their players afterwards and in their eyes we were not underdogs. When we play against them we command just as much respect from them as they do from us and they always think we’re in with a chance,” said the 26-year-old.
Erasmus thinks with a win over Australia on Saturday and then New Zealand in the return match in Pretoria, the Boks can still win the Tri-Nations.
Springbok coach Nick Mallett is expected to make many changes to his side, who must win the Brisbane game to have any chance of retaining the Tri-Nations title.
Rassie Erasums will return to the side of the scrum in Krige’s place after sitting out the 28-0 thrashing from New Zealand last Saturday.
Andre Vos should take over at number eight for Teichmann — whose injury seems less serious than previously thought and who is likely to miss two weeks of playing.
Mark Andrews, who bruised his hip, may be replaced with Selborne Boome, with Albert van der Berg warming the bench.
Werner Swanepoel and Braam van Straaten are expected to come in for Dave von Hoesslin and Gaffie du Toit, who came dreadfully unstuck against the All Blacks.
With both Pieter Muller (stiff back) and Japie Mulder (sore calf) nursing injuries, Robbie Fleck may make the starting 15 with Deon Kayser on the bench.
Meanwhile, fullback Matthew Burke’s return to the Wallaby starting line-up was made official on Tuesday by coach Rod Macqueen.
Burke replaces the unlucky Chris Latham, who has played with distinction in all three Tests this year but makes way for Burke’s goalkicking skills.
In other changes to the team which beat England 22-15 last month , prop Glenn Panoho is in doubt with an injured wrist and has been bracketed with Andrew Blades on the bench. Mark Connors also joins the bench, replacing fellow loose forward Jim Williams.
Australia: Matthew Burke; Ben Tune, Daniel Herbert, Nathan Grey, Joe Roff; Tim Horan, George Gregan; Toutai Kefu, David Wilson (captain), Matt Cockbain, John Welborn, David Giffin, Patricio Noriega, Jeremy Paul, Dan Crowley. — Reuters