Even South Africa’s ‘B-team’ forwards gave Australia a run for their money and in the absence of several key players, healthy depth was built by Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus.
So much so that he and his assistants will be thinking long and hard over who their first- and second-choice players will be for the two Tests against New Zealand starting with next weekend’s match at Ellis Park.
When the scrums went uncontested this past weekend in Perth, the Bok pack switched things up by mauling the Wallabies to shreds when they could not gain the ascendency with their set-piece weapon.
Now, though, Erasmus will have a few tough calls to make when it comes to his pack for the first Test against the All Blacks in Johannesburg.
No 8 is one of the positions that needs a regular occupier and with Jasper Wiese returning from suspension, it will be interesting to see if the Boks opt for him or if they will give Elrigh Louw, who was good in the two Tests against the Wallabies, an extended run.
They are similar players – bruisers with no regard for their own bodies – and the storming runs of Louw and how he climbed into rucks with no fear, reminded one of Wiese and how he operates. After sitting on the sidelines for so long and missing the six Tests the Springboks played so far this year, Wiese will be keen for a return.
But with no game time behind him and Louw performing well in his absence, it’s difficult to see Wiese returning straight into the Bok fold for the clashses against the All Blacks. But then again, Erasmus will know exactly what is required from his players to beat the All Blacks.
No 5 lock is the other position there will be some thought put into, especially if RG Snyman is still on the sidelines for the next couple of weeks. He was the only unused player on match-day in Australia after picking up an injury.
Utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit and rookie Ruan Nortjé stood in for him and both did a good job. Du Toit will be needed at flanker in the next two Tests, though, and will have to fill a role much like the one he did in the World Cup final – tackling any and every black jersey he sees, especially Jordie Barrett.
Nortjé has only played in two Tests, but there will be enough experience around him to do the job should Snyman not be available.
Then there are the hookers. Bongi Mbonambi only lasted a couple of minutes in the first Test in Australia before picking up an injury and the Boks had to throw Malcolm Marx in the deep end only a few games after his injury.
Rookie Johan Grobbelaar was the other hooker Down Under but he was not convincing with his line-out throwing, although the conditions were not great. Still, when Marx came on, the line-outs went better and the Boks could get their rolling mauls going.
There were, of course, a bunch of forwards in South Africa who missed out on selection for the Australia leg of the tournament and could come into contention for a place in the squad to face New Zealand.