Erasmus has been transparent about why six uncapped players made the touring squad while being left off the matchday 23 for Italy — and why that's entirely by design. The core logic: rather than topping up with familiar squad members, he'd rather expose promising players to the Bok environment early, even if they don't get on the park. Injuries to Vusi Moyo and Yaqeen Ahmed shaped some selections, but the broader principle is about building a pipeline and keeping tabs on players the coaches don't yet know well — Riley Norton at lock being the clearest example, with Erasmus openly flagging the depth concern there. The 'gatvol' point is deliberate too: uncapped players bring energy and don't sulk when left out, which keeps the broader squad dynamic healthy over a four-week tour. On Markus Muller ahead of Ethan Adams, Erasmus's reasoning comes down to positional utility — Muller can cover 13 and wing, filling a different need. Tshituka's situation is framed differently again; he's not a newcomer to the environment, just closer to the sharp end of selection than before.