Rassie Erasmus has given his assessment of Vusi Moyo's historic Test debut, acknowledging visible nerves from the youngster while expressing satisfaction with his overall performance in the Springboks' 48-0 win over Wales at Kings Park on Saturday.
Moyo became the youngest flyhalf in Springbok history at 20 years and 27 days — around six months younger than Patrick Lambie was at his debut — and was one of four debutants in the starting line-up. He kicked three conversions and produced the standout moment of his afternoon just before half-time, when a cross-kick set up Jesse Kriel's try to give the Boks a 19-0 lead at the break.
"I think he performed nervously, for me," Erasmus told reporters at Kings Park. "However, that's normal. To make a debut against a Tier One nation is tough for a 19- or 20-year-old guy."
Erasmus pointed to the physical and mental toll of Test rugby as the reason Moyo was withdrawn in the 47th minute for Manie Libbok. "You could see in the second half his tyres were getting pap, and that is when we made the swap."
The Bok coach highlighted the wet conditions as a factor in some of Moyo's kicking inaccuracies, but was clear that the youngster handled the occasion well overall. "He's a really accurate kicker, he kicks off really well — but then you get into a Test match like this, the ball is wet, and suddenly the pressure gets to you. I think he handled it extremely well."
Looking ahead, Erasmus confirmed that Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is expected to be available for the Argentina tour, while Handré Pollard continues to recover from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Wales fixture. Erasmus also flagged Junior Springbok playmaker Yaqeen Ahmed as a player on the national radar, though noted the awkward position his presence at the senior camp already created for the Junior Boks, who were unable to use him in their final.