Le Roux ready to slot in wherever he’s needed

WILLIE le Roux will be in the bombsquad.com, yo.

Le Roux, a veteran of 72 Tests, has been selected on the bench for the first Test against Wales at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow (kick-off 5pm), making way for Damian Willemse to get only his fifth start for the Boks this weekend.

It was arguably the biggest surprise this week when head coach Jacques Nienbaber announced his match-day 23, and Le Roux will have an important duty to fulfil as he, along with the only other back on the bench, Herschel Jantjies, will be expected to cover multiple positions.

The 32-year-old, however, admitted yesterday that hewas ready for any eventuality.

“I am in the bombsquad, and I do have a new role there,” said Le Roux.

“We will see when I come on, where I will slot in. I think it will be fullback. We have a few guys that can cover other positions.

“I am excited to still be in the 23. Even if I am not there, just serving (the team) – holding bags, painting pictures for the side – whatever my role is, I am happy to do that.

“Maybe in the second half, after they guys have done their job, it opens up a bit and then we can have a crack at it.”

The inference here is that if the Bok No 10 for the encounter, Elton Jantjies, is replaced or injured, starting fullback Damian Willemse will most likely slot into that channel.

Le Roux, however, has been spotted at training operating at flyhalf, but explained: "I have been running there the last two weeks because of the limited numbers in the squad. There wasn’t another guy at 10, so I just took it. Playing at fullback, you are coming in at 10, so it doesn't matter where they pick me, I will be able to do the job."

Despite this apparent fall-back position, Le Roux fully believes that Willemse has all the skills and talent to do something special on the day.

“He is a great rugby player and can play multiple positions,“Le Roux said.

“He slots into fullback very easily and he understands his role there. There were little things here and there where I helped him in the week – like his positioning; when to send up your wings; and when to hold them back a bit.

“He will do a good job and he is the right man. I am very excited to see him play.”

The general consensus among fans and pundits in the build-up to this Test series has been that the Boks will dominate their less-fancied opponents. However, all the Boks – players and management – have vehemently cautioned against such optimism this past fortnight. Le Roux was no different.

“The last couple of games against Wales have always been close – one or two points, like in the (2019) World Cup semi-final. It is always going to be a tough game against them,” Le Roux said.

"They don’t go away. They don’t play rugby in their half. They play smart.

“They have a very good coaching staff that analyses you and checks for your weaknesses. We are going to have to go to the gutters with them and we are going to have to see who can live there the longest.”

It was a belief shared by fellow bombsquad member Herscel Jantjies.

The Bok scrumhalf said: “We are expecting a very physical contest from Wales, and a lot of kicking

“It will be important to not overplay our hand. I expect Ox (Nche – the starting prop for the encounter) and them to smash them in the first half and, like Willie said, maybe in the second half it can be a bit more open for us.”

Le Roux and Jantjies revealed these insights in the north of Johannesburg at the announcement that Toyota will become the new official vehicle sponsor for the Springboks in a three-year deal.