Springboks’ new-look loose trio ready for massive Wallabies breakdown battle

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is confident in his new-look loose trio as they prepare to face the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday. Erasmus believes the loose trio, comprised of Elrigh Louw, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, and Marco van Staden, possesses the ideal combination of height, carrying ability, and breakdown expertise to compete with the Wallabies.

Erasmus explained that they do not strictly require a traditional No 8 but rather a versatile loose trio capable of performing various roles during the match. The Springboks made 13 changes to their lineup from the previous Test in Baltimore, with Van Staden manning the back of the scrum. Erasmus emphasized that the No 8 role is primarily for scrummaging, as there is usually only one tall loose forward involved in lineouts.

The coach highlighted that the loose trio will be crucial in securing possession and disrupting the Wallabies' quick ball. Wessels and Erasmus hinted that they may experiment with different positions, potentially playing Marx at flanker to assess his performance. Both players have previous experience facing Australia and are expected to contribute significantly to the team's performance in the upcoming match.