OPINION: Springbok rotation U-turn leaves wider squad, fringe players in limbo

But settling on almost the same matchday 23 for the last two Tests against the All Blacks, after initially saying he would use up to six more players, makes it seem as though the Springboks are backtracking on their rotation policy, which they have used in the past even for big games.

Rassie Erasmus and his assistant coaches have been loath to publicly say any one Springbok player is better than another, and the head coach even once stated he has no first-choice flyhalf.

Erasmus is entitled to pick the team that gives him the best chance of victory.