Springbok loose forward Cameron Hanekom is tackled by an England defender. The youngster stepped up in just his second Test after slotting in the starting XV due to injuries.
The Springboks’ emphatic 45-21 victory over England at Ellis Park was another reminder of their remarkable depth, but according to Rassie Erasmus, it was born out of circumstances no coach would ever wish for.
South Africa went into the opening Nations Championship Test having lost three key figures in captain Siya Kolisi and veteran lock Eben Etzebeth before kick-off. Then, first-choice loosehead prop Ox Nché injured his knee and was substituted early in the game.
Losing the team’s leader, its most-capped player and arguably the world’s premier loosehead would have unsettled most sides, yet the world champions barely missed a beat as the replacements stepped up to deliver another commanding performance.
Erasmus admitted there was no disguising the significance of the absentees.
