Rassie Erasmus is ready to reach for the heavy artillery. After a much-changed Springboks side survived a stiff examination from Scotland to win 42-28 at Loftus Versfeld, the world champions' director of rugby has signalled that a raft of front-line names will return for Saturday's Nations Championship meeting with Wales at Kings Park in Durban.
Erasmus rotated heavily against the Scots, a gamble he was willing to defend even as the margin tightened. "It's a bit of a combination," he said of his selection approach, mixing experience with experiment. "We were taking a chance today not because the guys are not good enough, but because they haven't played together. So next week we'll probably have some guys who return to fitness."
Among those in line to come back are Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, captain Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert, Cobus Reinach, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, a spine that reads like a first-choice Test XV. Erasmus also offered an update on playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has been sidelined. "We'll probably get Sacha into the group next week, because he might be ready for Argentina," the coach said, pointing the fly-half towards the 8 August Test in Buenos Aires rather than the Wales clash.
One selection puzzle continues to frustrate him. "I don't understand the Ethan Hooker concussion really. I don't understand it," Erasmus admitted, flagging the uncertainty over the utility back's availability.
Across the paddock, Wales arrive in Durban chastened by a 35-21 defeat to Argentina and bracing for what wing Josh Adams has called the toughest Test of the tour. Head coach Steve Tandy confirmed he too will freshen his side. "Everyone might not get a chance but we'll definitely make some changes from the game," Tandy said. "It's a lot of travel and it is physical. We'll assess everyone and see how they pull up and make a decision tomorrow evening on the team."
Tandy did not dress up the challenge facing his players against the No.1-ranked side. "Going to the world champions, we know they can probably put two or three teams out that are really impressive," he said. He also identified the physical battle as the area that undid Wales in Argentina. "Argentina probably dominated the physicality piece early doors, so that's something we definitely need to have a look at going forward."
If there is a silver lining for Wales, it is a competition for places that did not exist a year ago. Former captain Sam Warburton, assessing the squad's improved depth, argued the selection debates were a sign of progress. "We should celebrate this, that we can have a debate over who starts," Warburton said.
For the Springboks, the bigger picture stretches beyond Wales. Erasmus has one eye on the Argentina Test and the subsequent series with New Zealand, and his willingness to rest and rotate reflects a squad managing a punishing schedule from a position of strength at the top of the world rankings. Beat Wales in Durban, and South Africa's grip on the summer, and on the No.1 ranking Gregor Townsend recently endorsed, only tightens.
