Chaos or class? Fresh-look Bok backline faces ultimate test in Wellington

COMMENT

In a do-or-die Rugby Championship clash, Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff have backed the next generation of Springbok backs to deliver on one of rugby’s most unforgiving stages against the All Blacks.

For some, it might seem an audacious plan by the Boks, especially because they are fighting to stay in the hunt for the Championship title they currently hold. Another loss could put them on the back foot and possibly out of the running.

However, the youthful flair, raw energy, and creativity among the backs for the duel at the Cake Tin in Wellington (9.05am kick-off) could prove to be the difference between the sides. During the first Test at Eden Park, the tried-and-tested combinations did not work, and something had to be done to freshen things up for the second match.

The Boks relied on their set piece and kicking game to break an 88-year-old duck at Eden Park, but that failed to materialise. It was a game built on their forwards and a conservative, kick-heavy plan. It worked at times, but they could not pull it through. The side for Saturday could tilt heavily towards creativity and ambition, even in the predicted wet conditions.

Players like flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, outside centre Canan Moodie, and fullback Aphelele Fassi bring dynamism, silky footwork, and a willingness to take on defenders from anywhere on the field. They are players who relish broken-field play and who offer something different to the traditionally structured Bok blueprint.

Against the All Blacks, however, that chaos can be both a weapon and a liability.

The potential is definitely there. It will all just depend on how they go about doing their thing.

Moodie has already shown glimpses of being a game-breaker at Test level when wearing the No 13 jersey. He loves a line-break against the All Blacks from that position or creating something out of nothing.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s vision and skill could inject the kind of spark the Boks lacked at flyhalf in the last game. Add Fassi’s counter-attacking instincts from the back and the finishing prowess of wingers Cheslin Kolbe and Ethan Hooker, and suddenly the world champions look capable of scoring tries that would trouble even the most disciplined defence.

If the combinations click, Wellington could witness a different Bok attack.

On the downside, the gamble carries heavy risk.

Test rugby against the Kiwis is not the place to learn hard lessons about defence, game management, or composure. A couple of loose passes, defensive misreads, or ill-timed kicks could be ruthlessly punished by the likes of Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, or Beauden and Jordie Barrett.

The All Blacks thrive on transition ball, and in Wellington, any mistake at the back could quickly turn into seven points the other way.

The other challenge lies in cohesion. These young players may have excelled individually for the Boks, but for many it will be a first time playing in combination with the man next to them — especially for Hooker, Moodie, inside centre Damian Willemse, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

A lapse in defence or lack of chemistry in midfield could undo 60 minutes of hard graft from the Bok forwards in a heartbeat.

However, Erasmus has always been a coach willing to gamble when the stakes are highest. Throwing this inexperienced backline into the fire against the All Blacks could accelerate their growth and reveal which of them can be trusted when the 2027 Rugby World Cup rolls around.

If they succeed, the Boks will not only stay alive in the Rugby Championship but also uncover attacking weapons that could further reshape the Springbok identity under attack coach Tony Brown. If they fail, the knives will be out, and the gamble will be heavily questioned.

Wellington could be a watershed Test for the Boks as they continue to shape their blueprint ahead of the World Cup in Australia.