Erasmus: Vusi Moyo and Jaco Williams have earned their Springbok opportunity

Flyhalf Moyo and winger Williams will make their first Test appearances in Saturday's Nations Championship clash against Wales in Durban after spending the past seven weeks with the Springbok squad, where Erasmus said they consistently showed they were ready for the opportunity.

"They've been with us for seven weeks and what we've seen from them in the training sessions, they've definitely brought it," Erasmus told reporters on Monday.

"They've helped us prepare the other guys for the Test matches and we feel it's fair to give them an opportunity here. Hopefully they can step up and do the job for us against Wales."

Erasmus singled out 20-year-old Moyo's physicality and composure as qualities that have stood out despite his age.

"Sometimes you get a really skilful No 10, sometimes you get a small, nippy No 10, and every player has different strengths," he said.

"I think Vusi, for his age, is a very big boy. In the training sessions he certainly doesn't stand back from the physical side of the game. He's nice and calm.

"It's different in a Test match, and that's why it's a Test match - he'll be tested there. But he's a wonderful kicker of the ball. He kicks brilliantly from hand, his restarts are excellent, he finds touch well and he's a very good goal-kicker."

Erasmus admitted those qualities have yet to be proven at Test level, but believes Moyo has shown enough to warrant his chance.

"That's not in Test matches yet, so we want to see him in a Test match. What he's shown in training sessions, and also in the Barbarians match, definitely impressed us."

Williams, meanwhile, has also caught the Springbok coaches by surprise with the all-round nature of his game, saying the 21-year-old had exceeded expectations.

"I always thought Jaco was just a nippy guy and a finisher, but he's certainly a guy who brings it physically as well," Erasmus added.

"For a guy who's only 21, he's a powerful player. He's not a huge guy, but he's really powerful, with a lot of speed and X-factor."

Williams and Moyo aren't the only players set to make their debuts against Wales on Saturday.

France-based duo Ruben van Heerden and Carlu Sadie will also make their first appearances in green and gold, with Van Heerden - who is set to join Montpellier from the Stormers - starting in the second row and Bordeaux prop Sadie packing down at tighthead prop.

On Van Heerden finally getting his opportunity, Erasmus added: "We're all glad for him. Ruben is a guy who has been around for a long time and has had to be really patient.

"Sometimes it's difficult when you have guys in camp and you don't get the opportunity to give them a chance. Sometimes it's the nerves of a coach, sometimes it's the opposition you play, and sometimes it's just where you are as a team.

"Ruben played against us last year with the Barbarians and I thought he made a really good claim for himself, especially defensively and in the way he tackled.

"This year he was picked for the Barbarians again, but when we had a few injuries and called him up, he said he didn't want to play for the Barbarians - he wanted to play for the SA side. He's a guy who really wants to play for the Boks."

"It's nice to reward somebody, not by giving out caps for free, because we also believe Ruan [Nortje] must get a rest. Ruan has played a hell of a lot."