Jasper Wiese did not mind stepping back and playing his 50th Test for the Springboks off the bench, and that is exactly what the No 8 will do against the Wallabies on Sunday.
Normally, head coach Rassie Erasmus wants his players to achieve their milestone matches in the run-on team. However, the plans the Boks have in place for the clash at Perth’s Optus Stadium (11.45am kick-off SA time) require Wiese to play a role off the bench.
Erasmus explained on Tuesday during his team announcement what led to the decision to use the bruising No 8 as an impact player rather than have him start his 50th cap for his country. The versatile Marco van Staden will start at the back of the scrum, while Paul de Villiers and Elrigh Louw will combine as flankers.
“We would have loved to start Jasper, but we feel we need some security on the bench, to be honest with you,” Erasmus said.
“We normally try to get a guy like him to start the game, but we feel with the team that we selected here, maybe we can get momentum early in the game and things go well. We’re pretty sure the guys who are going to start are going to be full of energy. Some of them haven’t played for a while, and as you guys said rightly, there might be some hiccups with combinations.
“His acceptance to play off the bench is already a sign. We all know what a guy Jasper is. He’s actually talking more than he talked in the past. He’s really become a great leader in our team. A guy who never spoke in the past, over the last three years, when he talks, he really talks sense. He was also an option as captain and was considered there.
“But then we felt that we needed him off the bench. If things do get a little bit testing, he’s a nice guy to correct it for us. We’re very proud of him for reaching 50. We would have loved to start him, but he himself agreed that playing off the bench will be the best for us in this game.”
Now, instead of leading the charge from the outset, as he always does from the first kick-off that the Boks receive, Wiese will be tasked with bringing fresh energy and physicality when he enters the fray. And with the Wallabies expected to test the much-changed Bok side, Erasmus will be hoping his experienced No 8 can once again make an impact when it matters.
