With Snyman, Moerat, and Ruan Venter all ruled out for the season, Erasmus is having to cast his net wider in the lock department — and Junior Bok captain Riley Norton has caught his eye. Erasmus praised Norton's maturity and composure in senior camp, and the 20-year-old is set for meaningful game time against either the Barbarians or Zimbabwe in Gqeberha, potentially opening the door to a senior debut before he returns to the Junior World Championship squad. Erasmus is relaxed about overall lock depth — Etzebeth, De Jager, Wiese, and Nortjé are all available, with Bulls players joining after the URC final — but Norton's cameo next week is framed as a genuine audition rather than a courtesy cap.
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Norton earns Erasmus praise as Bok lock depth is tested by injuries
Erasmus has spoken warmly about Junior Bok skipper Riley Norton ahead of a potential senior debut in Gqeberha, with the lock stocks thinned by long-term injuries to Snyman, Moerat, and Ruan Venter. Norton's game time against the Barbarians or Zimbabwe will tell Erasmus whether he's ready to step into the Nations Championship frame.
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