Rassie Erasmus credits Tony Brown with Andre Esterhuizen gamble

revealing whose idea it really was.

Against the Barbarians last June, Esterhuizen got his first taste of action in the forward pack, coming off the bench in the second half of the match and packing down on the side of the scrum.

It was the first time that the midfielder tactically featured for Erasmus' men outside of his specialist position, but it would quickly become a trend for the Springboks throughout the year.

The 31-year-old went on to feature in 10 Test matches for South Africa last year, seven times off the bench, where he was included among the forward replacements. On paper, it meant that the Boks essentially had a 6-2 and 5-3 split at the same time, depending on the game and team's needs.

While the Bok head coach often gets the credit for the idea to trial Esterhuizen in the forward pack, he revealed that it was actually Tony Brown's idea. Erasmus is pleased with the success of the experiment, but hopes that it doesn't become too common a trend through World Rugby law changes that depower the set pieces.

He is also pleased that franchise coaches are utilising players in different positions on their own accord and without the influence of the Springboks coaching staff.

"I get a lot of credit for Andre's move, but it was Tony's idea," Erasmus said.

"If you are going to depower the scrum, the maul, the kicking game, we are just going to get more and more hybrid players.

"If general play is the most important thing, then Wilco Louw will get phased out, and there will be more guys like Schalk Brits who can play flanker, hooker and number eight. Do you really just want players like that all over the place?

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"Seb de Klerk played centre for the Pumas when they did really well in the Currie Cup. Marco van Staden is now playing hooker and flanker. We have never taken a guy totally out of his position.

"It's awesome, and we don't ask the franchises to do that. They do it themselves with a little bit of contact with us, but we must be careful with it.

"It's nice because there are about 120 rucks in a game, 12 scrums, 16 lineouts, but if you take those 12 scrums away and it's almost uncontested, then it would happen more and more but in a bad way."

Esterhuizen has greatly benefitted from the hybrid role as his Test appearances in 2025 shot up to 10 from four the year prior, while he played just five times in 2023.

The 29-Test cap Springbok was initially reluctant to play in the forward pack during his first stint at the Sharks, but has now embraced adding another string to his bow.

"It was obviously an interesting decision. Luckily, the size makes it easier to be able to do that," Esterhuizen told reporters before the clash against Argentina in Durban last year.

"For me, it was quite natural. Obviously, there are a few things to learn still and to pick up. But it is tough in front there, especially the training sessions.

"It's a lot different than the backs' training sessions. But, for me, I quite like it. I give myself a bit more chance to get into the team. For me, wherever I go on, 12 or six, I'm just happy to play."

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