Bok injury crisis depowering Bomb Squad, says Schalk Burger

The World Champions are missing several hefty bodies in their forward pack. The sudden retirement of prop Steven Kitshoff was followed by long-term injuries to fellow front rower Frans Malherbe, as well as back rowers Elrigh Louw, Juarno Augustus and Cameron Hanekom, while Jasper Wiese will be available for selection in the second match against the All Blacks on 13 September.

The much-coveted Bok depth is now being tested. Bomb Squad founder-turned-starter Kwagga Smith was supported by Marco van Staden and Franco Mostert on the flanks as the Boks ground out a 30-22 win over the Wallabies on Saturday.

Burger, who played 86 times for the Boks, believes the pressure is having a knock-on effect. With the Bomb Squad not being as explosive, there is slightly more pressure on the starters to lay the platform for victory.

"We haven't had the impact off the bench," Burger told The Verdict podcast.

"This weekend, Eben and Lood came on, and they fired up, but Malcolm Marx played 78 minutes. We haven't seen that under Rassie forever.

"We thought the Bomb Squad would come early and see if they could have a benefit like Wilco Louw at scrum time, he also came on like 65 minutes, gone are 45 minutes straight sub - do the full Bomb Squad.

"Andre Esterhuizen came on at flank, Australia win the ball at the back - is Andre Esterhuizen the right guy to stop a maul? And they score. I think that's where it has been hitting us hardest.

"We know that Franco Mostert can cover the role at blindside flanker for us, but is he a long-term solution? No, but he has to at the moment because we've got six players out at loose forward. Our depth up front, especially, is stretched, and we're also in a critical phase, and it's always going to happen where we've got a transition.

"Who is the next best hooker? Has Bongi taken a step back? Jan-Hendrik Wessels was also injured, our bench is stretched, and that's putting a lot of pressure on the starters to lay the platform."