Rassie Erasmus is not known for missing many tricks when it comes to tactical thinking, whether in selection or playing mind-games.
However, South Africa's controversial director of rugby has taken his eye off the ball in one of the Springboks' traditional areas of strength – the set-piece, and, in particular, having depth at hooker.
It is one of the most influential positions on the pitch because of the key role at scrum and lineout, and the injury to Malcolm Marx, which put the best No.2 in the world out of the World Cup, gave Erasmus and head coach Jacques Nienaber a difficult dilemma.
They needed to bring in a high percentage goal-kicker, as well as a replacement hooker. The former took priority with fly-half Handre Pollard replacing Marx, and this meant Mbongi Mbonambi moving up to first-choice hooker – and that's where it gets interesting.
Mbonambi is a class act, but the next hooker in line, Deon Fourie, is a 36-year-old utility forward. Although Fourie played hooker in his early career, he then moved to flanker, and it meant that when he came on for the last 16 minutes of the fulltilt Pool B decider against Ireland last weekend it had been five years since he played No.2 regularly.
Fourie is a rugged player, but one of his four lineout throws was not straight, and three went to the front jumper. He was also part of a ‘bomb-squad' front row which conceded two scrum penalties for early pushes, with Jack Crowley kicking the second to give Ireland their 13-8 winning tally.
The law of fine margins applies in big Test matches, and Erasmus – and Fourie – were on the wrong side of those against Ireland.
