Erasmus sets the tone with lineup packed full of power

Springboks’ head coach has named aXVwith more than 900 caps for Nations Championship opener

- Robert Kitson

The Nations Championship does not start until Saturday, but for Rassie Erasmus the fun and games have already begun. Sometimes the simplest messages can be the most effective and Erasmus’s decision to kickstart the week with an early bang by naming a strong Springbok lineup to face England was another artful initiative by a head coach who loves to be one jump ahead.

Not only has the heavy thud of a properly stacked Bok team sheet instantly set the narrative for the week, it has left England to try to play catch-up if they can. Virtually all South Africa’s heaviest hitters - Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Malcolm Marx - will be there to roll out the welcome mat at Ellis Park, banishing any idle notion that Erasmus might tinker slightly for the opening fixture.

No wonder he was in upbeat mood at his squad’s hotel, just up the road from England’s Sandton base. Kolisi will be leading South Africa in a Test for a remarkable 72nd time while Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse will earn their 50th caps.

The starting XV, which also includes Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nché and Bath’s departing prop Thomas du Toit, contains a weighty total of 935 caps even before the bench enters the equation.