Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has hinted that Frans Steyn might be utilised as a flyhalf in the upcoming Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday.
Backup flyhalf Elton Jantjies was omitted from the Boks’ match 23 for this weekend’s highly anticipated game against New Zealand, with Erasmus instead selecting Steyn – who can play across the backline – on the bench.
Erasmus says the selection was made with the aim to determine South Africa’s strength of depth at No 10 in the lead-up to the World Cup in Japan later this year.
‘Elton and Handré will go to the World Cup as the two 10s. But things can happen, we can get injuries and we have to know who will be the next No 10. Damian Willemse is currently back in South Africa with an injury,’ Erasmus said at a media conference on Wednesday.
‘If Handré gets injured, Elton would probably be the next starting flyhalf. But this is an opportunity to see if we have to slot in Frans Steyn at 10 or 12, how he goes. It is probably not the best opposition to try things like that, but it is an opportunity. Frans did play very well when he was on the field.
‘To be honest, we had an honest talk as a group. This is a big game for us but we are also preparing for the World Cup. With all respect to New Zealand, we are not disrespecting them, but we have to try a few things with the World Cup in mind.’
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