Rassie Erasmus has backed fly-half Vusi Moyo to handle the pressure of a Test debut against Wales in Durban on Saturday, describing the 19-year-old as 'nice and calm' despite the step up in intensity.
Moyo is one of four uncapped players named in the Springbok squad for the Nations Championship fixture, alongside wing Jaco Williams, lock Ruben van Heerden and tighthead prop Carlü Sadie. Both Moyo and Williams were part of the South Africa Under-20 side that won last year's Junior World Championship, and Moyo still qualifies for age-grade rugby.
Physical presence and kicking prowess
Erasmus highlighted Moyo's physical attributes and skill set when addressing reporters in Durban. "Vusi for his age is a really big boy, certainly in training sessions he doesn't stand back in the physical side of the game," he said. "He's a wonderful kicker of the ball. He kicks great, the way he kicks off restarts. His kicks to touch are great and to the poles but that's not been in Test matches."
The head coach acknowledged that Moyo's composure and technical ability had been evident in training and during the Barbarians fixture, but emphasised that Saturday's encounter would provide the definitive examination. "So, we want to see him in a Test match because what he shows in training sessions and also in the Barbarians game, he definitely showed a lot there and then I think he's got, for a big man, really good soft hands," Erasmus added.
Since the 2023 Rugby World Cup triumph, Handré Pollard, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok have rotated in the number 10 jersey. Moyo represents a different profile, combining size and physicality with distribution skills.
Winning while developing
The selection of four debutants continues a pattern established over recent seasons. South Africa fielded four uncapped players against Wales at Twickenham in 2024, winning 41-13, and seven against Portugal in Bloemfontein, prevailing 64-21. The Springboks' current winning streak has provided Erasmus with the platform to integrate new talent without compromising results, a luxury not always available when the team faced Wales in Bloemfontein in 2022 and lost 12-13 after selecting six uncapped players.
With the Nations Championship campaign underway and the British & Irish Lions tour on the horizon, Saturday's fixture offers Moyo and his fellow debutants an opportunity to stake a claim for future selection. Erasmus's confidence in the young fly-half suggests South Africa's depth at number 10 is set to deepen further.