Rassie Erasmus backs versatile André Esterhuizen to captain Springboks against Australia
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has made 13 changes for Sunday's one-off Test against Australia in Perth, handing the captaincy to André Esterhuizen.
South Africa's head coach Rassie Erasmus has selected versatile player André Esterhuizen to captain the Springboks in their upcoming Test match against Australia. Esterhuizen's leadership qualities, experience and versatility make him the ideal candidate to lead the team, according to Erasmus. The 32-year-old, who is the franchise captain of the Sharks, has proven his ability to adapt to various roles on the field, including centre, loose forward and as a hybrid impact player.
Erasmus sees this captaincy opportunity as part of a broader plan to strengthen the team's leadership group ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He explained that the plan involves pulling together senior players to ensure they all have a unified voice. Esterhuizen's leadership during his time with the Sharks, particularly during difficult seasons, has also played a part in his selection for the captaincy.
Erasmus hopes that with Esterhuizen at the helm, the Springboks will develop a cohesive leadership group that can perform well against a strong Australian team.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
