Erasmus faces selection puzzle

RASSIE Erasmus will name his 36-man squad on Tuesday for the upcoming Rugby Championship matches against Australia - and the big question is who will miss out, given the Springboks' current embarrassment of riches.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

The head coach has used 48 players over the past four weeks, with few letting themselves down and several newcomers delivering notable performances.

At the weekend, Erasmus' bold gamble on an entirely uncapped front row – Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouché - paid off handsomely. Cobus Wiese, ironically filling in for his suspended brother Jasper at No 8, impressed in a position that's not his natural home.

Edwill van der Merwe once again underlined his growing reputation, staking a real claim alongside the likes of Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe, while Canan Moodie continued his smooth transition into a capable deputy for Jesse Kriel at outside centre.

One clear conclusion Erasmus can draw from this block of matches is that Grant Williams is currently his top-performing scrumhalf.