ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Ding, ding. Round Two. And suddenly Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is back in the fight.
After New Zealand's 33–16 victory at Ellis Park, the Springboks head to Cape Town 1–0 down and needing a response.
Rassie Erasmus initially appeared to have chosen experience for the rematch.
Handré Pollard at 10. Cobus Reinach at nine. Siya Kolisi back. Malcolm Marx starting. Ox Nché restored to the front row.
Then came Friday's twist.
Pollard is out. Sacha is back.
A calf problem has ruled Pollard out, pushing Sacha back into the starting No.10 jersey and bringing Manie Libbok onto the bench. Meanwhile, Cheslin Kolbe has recovered sufficiently to return to the starting side.
And that makes one of Xola's arguments in this episode even more interesting:
Maybe the universe is telling Rassie to stop blinking.
If Sacha really is South Africa's generational talent, eventually the Boks have to trust him when the pressure is at its highest.
Xola Ntshinga and Simnikiwe Xabanisa unpack what Rassie's selections tell us about his response to Ellis Park — from the return of Siya Kolisi and the restoration of the Bok front row to the extraordinary decision to bring 39-year-old Deon Fourie back as reserve hooker.
There's also the battle up front.
Ox Nché reaches his 50th Test, Pieter-Steph du Toit his 100th, while New Zealand have promoted George Bower after his contribution to stabilising the All Black scrum in Johannesburg.
Before that, some love for the Lions after they pushed New Zealand all the way at Ellis Park, eventually going down 41–35.
But ultimately, this episode is about what happens when the Springboks get punched.
One defeat and suddenly the pressure is back.
The questions are back.
The doubters are back.
And South Africa are back in territory they know rather well:
fighting from the corner.
The All Blacks won Round One.
Now Sacha has been thrown back into the ring.
Cape Town. Saturday. Round Two.
Ding, ding...
