With just two changes from the Italy win, the Springbok squad for Paris is near-settled — but the selection calls still carry clear strategic intent. Wilco Louw's promotion to the starting tighthead at Du Toit's expense is explicitly scrum-focused: Erasmus is targeting France at the set-piece, and Louw's raw power is judged the sharper weapon for that job. Du Toit remains useful ball-in-hand, but that counts for less when the Boks want to physically impose themselves up front. Cobus Reinach edges out Grant Williams for the bench scrum-half spot, with Erasmus crediting Reinach's five years at Montpellier as a factor — experience of French conditions and Top 14 rugby tipping the balance over Williams, whose enforced positional shuffling against Italy limited his case. The piece also flags Morné van den Berg's rapid rise as arguably the squad's most improved player, while Etzebeth's continued absence — despite returning from injury and rejoining the squad — is softened by a clear signal from Erasmus that Dublin on 21 November is his likely return date. Moerat's ongoing injury misfortune, with Etzebeth now back in the picture, makes his prospects for the remainder of the tour look increasingly slim.