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Rassie Erasmus selects Andy Farrell's Ireland matchday 23 for him
By Warren Fortune
With just a few days before the Test between South Africa and Ireland in Pretoria, Rassie Erasmus has turned on the mind games.
The Springbok head coach took to social media this weekend to try and get into Ireland head coach Andy Farrell’s head.
In a post on X, Erasmus predicted Ireland’s matchday squad for the first of two Tests between the sides in July.
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. MC McCarthy
5. Tadhg Byrne
6. Peter O'Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
9. Craig Casey
10. Jack Crowley
11. James Lowe
12. Bundee Aki
13. Gary Ringrose
14. Calvin Nash
15. Jimmy O'Brien
16. Ronan Kelleher
17. Cian Healy
18. Finlay Bealham
19. James Ryan
20. Ryan Baird
21. Nick Timoney
22. Conor Murray
23. Ciaran Frawley
**If 5/3 split:**
- Robbie Henshaw
Erasmus believes Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadgh Furlong will be Ireland’s starting front row with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne in the second row.
The Bok coach has Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris in Ireland’s back row.
With Jamison Gibson-Park ruled out with an injury, Erasmus is confident that Craig Casey will form a halfback combination with flyhalf Jack Crowley.
According to the Bok boss, Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose will fill the midfield roles, while the back three will consist of James Lowe, Calvin Nash and Jimmy O’Brien.
Erasmus believes Farrell will opt for a six-two bench split between forwards and backs. However, he has bracketed Robbie Henshaw as an option if Ireland go for a five-three split.
The Bok coach also took some time to compare certain stats between the matchday squads ahead of the series.
And it seems Ireland will be the heavier team next weekend.
Erasmus also hinted at his selection after revealing that his matchday squad will have a total of 1,162 caps.
After the first Test at Loftus Versfeld on July 6, the teams will meet again at Kings Park in Durban on July 13.
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Latest Comments
We can all see this problem, eh? Love the clips showing how smart opposition coaches exploit it though. Thanks, Nick.
Borthwick has obviously earned the right to expect people to look elsewhere when the sort of personal problems likely at the heart of Jones' departure occur but it's hard to believe he's, if not entirely to blame, at least most of the problem.
England seem between choices in every aspect of their play to me right now
Go to commentsBM My rugby fanaticism journey began as a youngster waking up in the early hours of the morning with a cup of coffee to watch the Boks play the ABs on that 1981 rebel tour, where we lost the last game in the dying seconds to a penalty, and ended up losing the series 2-1. Danie Gerber, Naas Botha, Ray Mordt, and DuPlessis, to name a few; what a team! I believe we could've won another World Cup with those boys playing in their prime.
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