Morne van den Berg has quickly shot up the scrum-half pecking order this year with the Springboks, and Rassie Erasmus has explained why the coaching team loves him.

The Lions number nine has been the subject of scrutiny by South African fans in recent times, with many questioning how he gets the selection nod over the likes of fellow local nines Embrose Papier, Haashim Pead and Jaden Hendrikse.

However, Van den Berg has switched the narrative recently after a standout performance off the bench in the third Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series match against New Zealand before producing a Player of the Match display in Baltimore a week later.

He continued that fine form off the bench in the defeat to Australia and was crowned Player of the Match again in the Springboks‘ first November Nations Championship clash against Italy last weekend.

The 29-year-old, affectionately known as Krappies [little crab], has retained his starting role for the Springboks’ encounter against France at the Stade de France in Paris this weekend, where he is set to go toe-to-toe with Antoine Dupont – arguably the best scrum-half in the game right now, and Erasmus has no doubts that he will rise to the occasion.

Horses for courses Springboks selections

Discussing the selection at scrum-half, Erasmus explained that some of the best players in South Africa might not make it in the Springboks squad because of the needs of the team and what complements the side best. He used the back-rowers to explain his point, with both Elrigh Louw and Evan Roos overlooked for this international window.

“It’s sometimes tough to convince people that a player has something that complements our team,” the head coach began.

“Some of the best players in South Africa, in our era, might not play for the Springboks because of what we need in the Springboks for a certain team. If you have Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese, the next player you want in there is probably a Cam Hanekom who can cover six, seven and eight, but Elrigh and Evan are good players, but they maybe don’t complement what we need in this specific team.”

Zoning in on the scrum-half selection, Erasmus explained that the team currently doesn’t need a Joost van der Westhuizen-esque player who enjoys sniping around the fringes. Instead, they are better served by a scrum-half who gets to the base of the ruck quickly and gets the ball into the hands of the outside backs.

“There are good scrum-halves in South Africa; Faf, Jaden, Embrose and they all have got wonderful skills, but what Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu], Manie [Libbok], Handre [Pollard], Damian [de Allende], Gazza [Damian Willemse], and Andre Esterhuizen bring, we maybe need a nine who is just really fast off the base and gets the ball into those guys’ hands,” he explained.

“We don’t need this guy who’s sniping all over the field and like a Joost van der Westhuizen did.

“There is a difference between Joost van der Westhuizen and a Werner Swanepoel, Johan Roux and Robert du Preez – all of them had different skills and all of them were wonderful players.”

Why the coaching team loves Morne van den Berg

So what exactly does Van den Berg do that the coaching staff loves?

“What we love about Krappies and what we enjoy is he makes everything a contest,” the head coach said. “The tackle fight, a pass, getting to the ruck quick enough, and I’m not blowing his horn and saying he’s one of the best players in the world, but hell, he grafts, and if he gives his best, we will be happy.”

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The Springboks team for the meeting at the iconic Stade de France features just two changes, with Wilco Louw and Thomas du Toit switching roles, the former now included in the starting XV, whilst the latter provides tighthead prop cover on the bench.

Meanwhile, Cobus Reinach will provide cover for Van den Berg, with Erasmus explaining that Grant Williams is lacking game time and match-readiness after just one outing in Japan before linking back up with the squad ahead of the Nations Championship win over Italy. Williams sustained an injury in the opening Test match against New Zealand and missed the subsequent fixtures versus the All Blacks as well as the clash with Australia in Perth.