Erasmus using inside information to try to get the better of Cipriani
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus is wary of the threat a "wonderful" Danny Cipriani will pose to his side in the third Test at Newlands on Saturday.
Cipriani will make his first England start for a decade when Eddie Jones' side go in search of a consolation victory in Cape Town, replacing George Ford in the team.
Willie le Roux - who is one of the home team's replacements this weekend - has waxed lyrical to Erasmus over the fly-half after playing alongside him at English club Wasps.
Erasmus knows the Springboks will have their work cut out to try and keep Cipriani quiet as they attempt to complete a 3-0 whitewash.
"Chatting to Willie, who plays with him at the same club, he said he was a wonderful player," said Erasmus.
"Willie will tell you that he’s learnt so much from Cipriani just in the way of attack and running lines and picking the right options really late.
"I think we’ll be tested. It will depend what the weather is like, but he is a wonderful player."
He added: "Even in his stint at the Rebels and all over when you follow him … he tends to play wonderful rugby. He'll test us, definitely."
As well as Cipriani, Jones has also recalled prop Joe Marler and back-rower Chris Robshaw, who replace Mako Vunipola and Brad Shields respectively in the pack.
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I’m looking forward to attending the Twickenham match, I don’t think it will have a bearing on the outcome of the grand prize itself but it will tell us more about each teams’ preparation and game plan. It’s hard to look past one of the big four (I’m including Canada) lifting the trophy in 2025 but sport is a curious thing, there will still be twists and turns in road ahead.
Go to commentsThe better side seems to be the losing side a lot these days. As far as narrative goes. Must be the big emergent culture of “participation awards” that have emerged in nanny states. ”It looked like New Zealand would take the game from there but lapses in execution let South Africa get back into the game. New Zealand’s goal kickers left five points out there, including a very make-able penalty on the stroke of half”. Sounds like a chronic problem… I wonder how the better team has lapses in concentration and execution? Or are those not important factors in the grand scheme of total performances? In 2023, the ABs at least didn’t give up a lead to lose. They just couldn’t execute to get the points and take the lead. This Baby AB result points to a choke - letting the game slip through your fingers. In the words of the great Ricky Bobby’s dad - “If you’re not 1st you’re last!” Loosely translated - if you didn’t win, you’re a loser.
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