Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus demonstrated his trademark player-management strategy by releasing centurions Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende from the squad. The powerhouse duo will fly back to South Africa immediately, ruling them out of next Sunday's one-off Test match against the Wallabies in Perth.
The decision comes directly after the Springboks wrapped up a demanding, high-intensity four-Test campaign against the All Blacks in the United States, clinching the "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry" series 3-1. Both Du Toit and De Allende started all four matches in that gruelling series, logging massive minutes after a heavy international season.
Erasmus confirmed on Saturday that the release is purely a workload-management decision. It gives the heavily utilised veterans a well-earned opportunity to rest and spend time with their families before the upcoming end-of-year Nations Championship leg in November.
"Pieter-Steph and Damian have carried a massive workload during the series against the All Blacks," Erasmus noted.
Despite losing over 200 Tests' worth of experience in one go, the Bok boss remains unfazed about the squad's capacity to handle the Wallabies.
"We have sufficient cover within the travelling squad currently based here in Australia to handle their absences," Erasmus reassured fans.