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Best bench in history of rugby? Don't forget about the starters, say Eben and Stick

Edinburgh. - "Maybe we can organise that he jogs back to the hotel after the game, because he'll still have too much energy."

Those were the words of Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth ahead of Sunday's highly anticipated clash against Scotland at Murrayfield. 

Who was he talking about? Pieter-Steph du Toit. 

Why? Well, because in a rare selection move, South Africa's 80-minute diesel engine will be starting a Test match on the bench alongside what is surely one of the most destructive 'Bomb Squads' the Boks have fielded yet. 

In employing a 7/1, forwards/backs split on the splinters, coach Rassie Erasmus has Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Siya Kolisi, Du Toit and Jasper Wiese as his replacement pack. 

WATCH | Diehard SA fans camp outside team hotel to meet Springbok heroes

Etzebeth's comments drew a laugh from the room of journalists at the Springbok team hotel in Edinburgh on Sunday, but the enormity of a Test match at Murrayfield is, of course, no laughing matter. 

When one of the Scottish scribes in the room referred in a question to this as 'one of the best benches the history of world rugby', nobody batted an eyelid. 

"It's going to be exciting what he can do in 30 or 40 minutes or however long he plays," Etzebeth added, still referring to Du Toit. 

Given its star power, it is understandable that so much of the pre-match chat for this clash has centred on the Bok 'nuke squad'.

But, for both Etzebeth and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, the focus should equally be on the 15 players starting the Test. 

"On paper, obviously it's a good bench. But we always say in this team that a game is never won on paper," said Etzebeth.

"We'll see once they come on how they make a difference. The guys on our bench know

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