If you were expecting to see Evan Roos wear the No.8 jersey against Georgia this weekend, you’re not alone. But Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has once again reminded fans that when it comes to team selections, there’s always a method behind the madness.
Instead of the hard-running Stormers loose forward, Erasmus has handed the starting berth to Cobus Wiese – the younger brother of suspended Jasper – as the Boks prepare to wrap up their Castle Lager Incoming Series at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
The call sparked plenty of debate, but Erasmus was quick to set the record straight.
Evan has had nine Test caps,” he explained.
“He trains well and does well for us… but we’d like to see Cobus at No.8. We have a good feeling.”
Why Roos Isn’t Starting – And Why That’s Okay
Roos made a solid impact off the bench last weekend, clocking 11 carries for 35 metres in just 25 minutes – a contribution that added serious momentum late in the game. But Erasmus isn’t shutting the door on him. Far from it.
Like anyone else, Evan is still in the mix, without a doubt,” said Erasmus.
“It’s a long season. After four matches, the door is not closed for anybody.”
With Elrigh Louw and Ben-Jason Dixon injured, Duane Vermeulen retired, and Jasper Wiese suspended, there’s no shortage of opportunity in the No.8 jersey. But rather than lock down one man now, Erasmus is playing the long game.
We never drop people from our team,” he insisted.
“We want to get 12, 13, even 15 or 20 caps into Evan over the next cycle… and 10 or 12 into Cobus.”
It’s all part of a broader squad-building plan aimed at long-term cohesion, especially with the next Rugby World Cup in sight.
We have a group of 46. We’re trying different combinations – training together, playing under pressure, and learning as a group.”
Debutants in the Deep End
The Bok coach also doubled down on his bold front-row selection, which sees Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, and Neethling Fouché earn their first Test starts. All three impressed in the Barbarians match, but facing a proud Georgian pack is a step up – and Erasmus knows it.
We’ve got some proper locks and loose forwards behind them, so it’s a balance of throwing the rookies in against a team who, like us, enjoys scrumming,” he said.
“If you played in France, you’ll know – Georgians love scrumming.”
With Georgia resting key players last week, Erasmus expects them to arrive in full force – especially up front – making this a baptism of fire for the Bok debutants.
The three guys starting in this game will need the back five to make sure they do OK, and there’s no better test than this.”
Selection Strategy: Short-Term Results, Long-Term Gains
The message from Erasmus is clear: this isn’t about favourites or flavour-of-the-week picks. It’s about building a squad that’s resilient, flexible, and tested under pressure.
You’re trying to win under pressure, but you’re also thinking about the future,” he said.
“The more we try different combinations and guys swapping in and out, the better we become.”
While fans may be clamouring for a Roos start, Erasmus is calmly crafting depth across every position – and he’s not rushing it. For Roos, Wiese, and others, it’s all part of the journey.
