FIRST TAKE | Depth of stacked Boks has reached jaw-dropping levels

The Springboks have made a host of changes for Scotland, but everywhere you look, there is quality in abundance, writes Lloyd Burnard.

The dust has barely settled on their commanding 45-21 victory over England at Ellis Park on Saturday, but already the Springboks have set the stage for this weekend’s Nations Championship clash against Scotland at Loftus.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus has, as he did last week, again named his side on a Monday.

No other side in World Rugby does that. But, then again, no other side in world rugby has the depth of quality that the Springboks do, or the level of detailed planning that Rassie Erasmus does.

Even with a host of players out injured, Erasmus has been able to name a very different-looking side from the one that did the business in Johannesburg. In fact, there are just five players who keep their place in the starting line-up.

One of those, Damian Willemse, moves to inside centre to partner Jesse Kriel.

Willemse was superb at fullback against England, and Erasmus’ faith in shifting him to the midfield proves what a generational talent he is.

Willemse continues to provide the Boks with several options and, as a result, remains one of their most valuable backline players as the buildup to the 2027 World Cup continues.

Aphelele Fassi, meanwhile, gets another crack at No 15. It is safe to presume that, presently, Fassie finds himself behind Willemse in the fullback pecking order. It is the ultimate showing of Springbok depth to have a player of Fassi’s abundant ability fighting so hard for a place in the side.

There are changes out wide, too, where Edwill van der Merwe and Canan Moodie replace Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wings.

Then, at halfback, Grant Williams and Manie