When the Springboks conduct their post-match review from the first Test against Italy, there will undoubtedly be some stern examinations of certain shortcomings despite a comfortable victory.
Rassie Erasmus will know that perspective is just as important as expectation at the start of a Test season when the Springboks are just getting their wheels in motion, but he has already made it clear that there will be a change in thinking when it comes to selection.
“Internally we’ve announced that 13, 14 players that will definitely get a run next week, and that we’d build the bench or starting line-up around those guys,” he said.
“We won’t discard those guys but some of them might move to the bench, some of the real standout players who played today might start again.”
The Springbok team for the second Test against at Italy this weekend will be named on Tuesday at 15:00.
Springboks looking for a big step up against Italy this Saturday
The teams will meet again at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha this weekend before the Springboks wrap up their July campaign against Georgia at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit a week later on 19 July.
“We let ourselves down at the breakdown a bit,” Springbok captain Jesse Kriel commented. “I thought they slowed our ball down pretty well. We obviously wanted to attack off quick ball there, but we couldn’t get that at stages in the game.
“But we’re looking forward to the Test match this week. I think it’s set up nicely and lots of work for us to do before then.”
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