Rassie Erasmus is keeping France guessing by delaying until Friday the Springbok team announcement for the World Cup quarter-final.
The Boks will tackle tournament hosts France in the fourth 2023 World Cup quarter-final in Paris on Sunday night.
It has become customary under Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber for the Boks to announce their team as early as possible in the week – usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
However, it has since been officially confirmed that the Boks will name their matchday-23 on Friday, prompting speculation over whether the South Africans are planning to unleash something special on France.
During a press conference on Tuesday evening, Erasmus was asked why the Boks decided not to release their team sheet early.
“We have been mixing and matching for the last year and making sure almost in every single position that we can have someone just as good, in some cases we are not even sure who is the best,” Erasmus said.
“Keeping our options open for a seven-one, a six-two or a five-three with both Handre [Pollard] and Manie [Libbok] being available. There is nobody with an injury, Lukhanyo [Am] is fully fit.
“We sort of have made up our mind but we’re in between at this stage. Tomorrow [Wednesday] internally we will confirm that. I think having everybody available and seeing what the French team looks like, that may have an influence on us going seven-one or a six-two.”
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Erasmus was delighted to have an injury-free squad of players to select from and welcomed the healthy debating from fans over who the Boks should pick for Sunday’s playoff.
“We don’t have any injuries currently, everyone is fit. We can pick from Lukhanyo right through to Vincent Koch, everyone is available. We are very fortunate and that is why we haven’t quite decided seven-one, six-two. It’s tough to announce the team.
“At the end of the day we are all going to lift the trophy. Not just as 33 players but with 22 management that’s 55 people. After we internally sort out everything, players just accept [the selections] even if we picked the team and we make a mistake here or there.
“I know South Africans are having a lot of opinions which is great, I don’t think they were in 2017 or 2016. I think they were burning flags and now they are picking teams and they are worried about us and we love that. We enjoy the position we are currently in.”
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