Lukhanyo Am is ‘really comfortable at 12’ according to Springbok coach

Rassie Erasmus was at pains to point out that he is trying to build depth after making 10 changes to the Springbok team on Tuesday for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies in Perth (kick-off 11.45am, SA time).

But selecting Lukhanyo Am at inside centre could provide the world champions with an entirely different outlook on attack at the Optus Stadium.

The 30-year-old stalwart of the 2019 World Cup triumph in Japan has been a rock at outside centre for a number of years, but injuries in recent seasons have seen Jesse Kriel usurp the No.13 jersey.

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Am actually started out his pro career at Border and the Southern Kings operating at No.12 as well, and considering his vast skill set, he may add a fresh dynamic to the Bok approach this weekend.

Am doesn’t have the same physical attributes of Damian de Allende, but his soft hands and vision to find space could result in Kriel also benefiting from having more space to manoeuvre in at outside centre. It is all part of the bigger Bok picture to expand their horizons on attack under new assistant coach Tony Brown ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

It was evident at the Suncorp Stadium in last weekend’s 33-7 victory how the Boks varied their style and took unusual options with ball in hand.

They mixed it up in going for a big scrum, setting up line-out mauls and then employing different tricks, such as the two jumpers that led to Siya Kolisi’s opening try, and then later having Cheslin Kolbe feeding the scrum and breaking away.

Kolbe even threw into the line-out at one stage, and attempted a drop goal.

Am’s presence should also assist the young halfback pairing of Morné van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to find their feet and play their natural games on Saturday.

“Damian has been playing ... We’ve got all the minutes of the guys and how we want to manage them and keep the guys fresh,” Erasmus said on Tuesday.

“Although it’s Test-match level, we did see when Lukhanyo moved to 12 (against Portugal) – and in the beginning of his career, he only played 12 and only later when he moved to the Sharks, he started playing 13.

“He’s played wing for us as well, and he certainly did really well when we down to 14 and 13 men at one stage against Portugal, playing inside.

“To change the team up and not lose momentum in the system ... Jesse is excellent on defence and on attack. Lukhanyo was really good against Portugal and Damian probably needs a little bit of a rest, to put it bluntly, because the way he plays is really physical.

“We can’t expect him to play 14 Test matches in a row like that. And obviously André Esterhuizen is not currently available, but then again, Handré (Pollard), if everything goes according to plan, can slot in at 12.

“We have both Handré and Manie (Libbok) on the bench, and we do see Handré also as a possible 12. But Lukhanyo looks really comfortable (at 12).”

RG Snyman’s foot injury and Ben-Jason Dixon’s groin niggle see Pieter-Steph du Toit shifting back to blindside flank. Bulls captain Ruan Nortjé starts at No.5 and Salmaan Moerat captains the side from No.4 with Siya Kolisi rested, and Marco van Staden at openside flank.

There is also a fresh front row in Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Thomas du Toit, and Erasmus was confident that the new-look team could pull off a second consecutive victory in Australia.

“With 14 World Cup winners, we didn’t pick a team to lose. The players that we put in there, it’s only two new (starting) caps. The guys on the bench can certainly stabilise, change the game or make some good changes and decisions on the field,” he said.

Springbok starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels; Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Handré Pollard.