Esterhuizen’s versatility gives Boks added edge

Esterhuizen was speaking after the world champions silenced a fired-up French team in Paris over the weekend.

As the Boks prepare for the third of five Tests on their European tour, he says their recent clash with the Italians earlier this year has given them valuable insight into what to expect this weekend.

"Italy is a very unpredictable team. We did play against them earlier this year so we have a good understanding of what we can expect from them.

"This past weekend, they beat Australia so we know it's going to be tough."

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Earlier this season, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus, known for his innovative tactics, surprised many by using Esterhuizen at flank in the season-opening match against the Barbarians in Cape Town.

Critics questioned the experiment, but on Saturday it paid off.

Coming off the bench against France, the Sharks centre crossed the try line in the 62nd minute to hand South Africa the lead for the first time after Lood de Jager’s yellow card had left them under pressure.

Esterhuizen says the team prepares for every possible scenario, whether he’s called on as a centre or a flank.

"We speak about it before the game quite a bit. Usually, I know before kick off if I'll be covering more at centre or loose forward.

"You never really know what's going to happen, but the good thing is that we prepare for both situations."

From anchoring the midfield to reinforcing the breakdowns, Esterhuizen’s hybrid role proved decisive as the Springboks powered to a 32–17 victory at the Stade de France.

He says halftime conversations were key to turning the momentum their way, with the team executing the plan perfectly in the second half.

Reflecting on the emotional win over France, Esterhuizen says the Boks treated the high-profile fixture like any other, staying composed under pressure.

He adds that while emotion can fuel a strong start, it’s structure and discipline that see them through the full 80 minutes.

"The boys knew the importance of the game, but we stuck to our processes without getting sucked into the emotion of the match during the 80 minutes."

Saturday’s Test between Italy and the Springboks at the San Siro in Turin is scheduled to kick off at 14:40.