Rassie’s flyhalf options overflow as he ponders Rugby Championship

THERE is no shortage of Springbok supporters considering the big question: Who will start at flyhalf for South Africa against the All Blacks in Auckland this September?

- MIKE GREENAWAY

Few fans have a definitive answer, and it’s doubtful whether Rassie Erasmus is entirely certain either.

The fact that Erasmus must weigh up the unique strengths of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok and Handré Pollard — and still not have a clear frontrunner — speaks to the Springboks’ remarkable depth as they build towards the Rugby Championship.

That campaign kicks off with back-to-back clashes against the Wallabies on 16 August in Johannesburg and a week later in Cape Town. It is during those two Tests that Erasmus must settle on the halfback pairing that gives the Boks the best chance of claiming a historic win at Eden Park — where South Africa last triumphed in 1937.

Grant Williams, through excellent recent form, appears to have nailed down the scrumhalf jersey. But flyhalf remains far more contested after mixed performances in the recent matches: Feinberg-Mngomezulu looked out of sorts against Georgia, Libbok dazzled against Italy, and Pollard has calmly closed out matches with trademark assurance.