Quan Horn takes the test!
Quan Horn takes the test!
Mallett backs Erasmus's Horn gamble at 10 — but calls it a 'fantastic challenge'
Nick Mallett endorses Erasmus's decision to start Quan Horn at fly-half against the Barbarians, arguing Horn has been operating as a de facto 10 within the Lions system all season — and that the experienced players around him make this a realistic audition ahead of the Nations Championship.
Esterhuizen: Boks treating Barbarians clash as a full test match
Andre Esterhuizen says the Springboks are treating Saturday's YesPlay Cup match against the Barbarians in Gqeberha as a full test match, flagging the Nankivelli-Vakatawa midfield as a serious challenge while backing Quan Horn to handle the unfamiliar flyhalf role.
Esterhuizen: Boks treating Barbarians clash as a full test match
Andre Esterhuizen says the Springboks are treating Saturday's YesPlay Cup clash against the Barbarians in Gqeberha as a standard test match, with a focus on process and winning. He also backed Quan Horn to handle the flyhalf role and flagged the visiting midfield pairing of Alex Nankivelli and Virimi Vakatawa as a genuine challenge.
Horn at 10, a Stormers-heavy Bomb Squad, and five uncapped faces — five things to know about the Boks' Barbarians selection
Erasmus has named Quan Horn at fly-half — his first professional start at 10 — with Kolbe taking kicking duties, a Stormers-heavy Bomb Squad replacing the usual faces, and five uncapped players handed their moment ahead of the Nations Championship.
Five things that matter in Erasmus's Barbarians squad
Planet Rugby breaks down the five key talking points from Erasmus's Barbarians squad: Horn's unprecedented fly-half debut, Du Toit's injury comeback, a heavily rotated Bomb Squad drawn entirely from the Stormers, and five uncapped players given their shot before the Nations Championship opener.