Arguably one of the more crucial selection calls by Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus ahead of the second Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry concerned who would play at flyhalf.
As it transpired, Erasmus selected double Rugby World Cup pivot Handre Pollard as his starting No 10 for the encounter at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 5pm), dropping Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who started the first Test at Ellis Park this past weekend in the Boks' 33-16 loss, to the bench and the No 23 jumper.
The pivot shuffle will see Manie Libbok playing no part in Cape Town.
It was undoubtedly a big call to make. Feinberg-Mngomezulu was not at his clinical best in Johannesburg, although an argument could be made that he did not receive adequate support from the pack to express himself.
Erasmus explained the selection process on Monday, indicating that the injury to Cheslin Kolbe — who kicked at goal on Saturday — the need for a reliable boot in that department, and the possibility of inclement weather all informed his pick of Pollard.
Former Springbok flyhalves Morne Steyn and Butch James had differing opinions on the selection. Speaking ahead of the team announcement on Monday, at the official unveiling of 10bet's sponsorship with the Lions, Steyn expressed a belief that Pollard should start. James, meanwhile, insisted that Feinberg-Mngomezulu be retained in his starting berth.
“I am a big fan of Sacha,” Steyn, who kicked the Boks to the 2009 British and Irish Lions series win, said. “I think he is a good and interesting player.
“I really enjoy Sacha, but I didn’t think he had a great game on Saturday. If you are looking for a more solid flyhalf for the Test coming up, Handre will be a good option. He hasn't played many bad games for the Boks.
“Having Handre there with a solid kicking boot, as I think there were some solid opportunities where we could have gone for poles … Damian Willemse was also an option there, but he is playing really well at 15.”
James, meanwhile, argued that Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the country’s best flyhalf. Although the 24-year-old won’t start the Test, James believes he has an opportunity to bring his X-factor off the bench and make a huge impact later in the clash.
Moreover, the 2007 World Cup-winning flyhalf pointed to the inability of the Bok forwards to control the game as a possible reason for not only Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s lack of cutting edge, but indeed that of the backline unit, too.
“(Feinberg-Mngomezulu) could only play as well as his teammates around him and it is not always just the scrumhalves fault," James said. "You have to see what sort of ball the scrumhalves are getting from the pack,”
“A lot of the balls from the line-outs weren't delivered best, and then at ruck time the All Blacks were very good at disrupting the breakdown. We saw them a few times getting hold of (scrumhalves) Cobus (Reinach) and Grant (Williams) and that will all affect the 10 and the backline.
“I think everyone will be looking to tidy it up and execute it a bit better. We also know about the many mistakes the whole team made.”
James also believes Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s physicality is an important part of the Bok No 10’s arsenal.
“Manie and Sacha play a similar game and it's very much around attacking,” James explained.
“Sacha might just have one up on how he carries himself a bit more than Manie and gets over the advantage line more than Manie would. Handre is just a cool head. We’ve all seen what exactly he can do.”
Looking at the bigger picture, Steyn approached the recent loss and upcoming second Test with pragmatism.
Said the Lions kicking consultant: “Maybe it’s a good thing the Boks have lost now, as they haven’t lost in a long time.
“You always learn more from a loss. It’s not always nice and the South African fans always want to win, but for the World Cup and our upcoming games, I think the loss was maybe good for us.” Steyn concluded.