Player shortages force Boks into unusual bench split

YEAR END TOUR

- LEIGHTON KOOPMAN

SPRINGBOK scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will play in his 50th Test for South Africa on Saturday in Cardiff, but will do so as part of a 7-1 Nuke Squad replacement bench. | BackpagePix

(BackpagePix)

THE Springboks have been pushed into selecting a 7-1 bench split for Saturday's Test against Wales in Cardiff, a move driven primarily by player unavailability and the match falling outside the international window.

With several regular backs unavailable due to club commitments, head coach Rassie Erasmus has turned to his famed Nuke squad with only one specialist back among the replacements.

The Boks will rely heavily on the forwards for the clash at the Principality Stadium, and Erasmus said some forwards will have to step into backline roles should injuries strike.

While South Africa has used forward-loaded benches before, this weekend's situation is less a tactical experiment and more out of necessity.

Cobus Reinach, playing in his 50th Test, will run on from the bench as he becomes the second Bok to reach that milestone in Europe.

Loose forwards Kwagga Smith and Ben-Jason Dixon are the other replacements slated to fulfil a role in the backline if push comes to shove in the final Test of 2025.

“I don’t think we planned at the beginning of the year to go 7-1 against them,” Erasmus said about the composition of his bench.