Rienaber will be using the infamous 7-1 bench split against another top tier nation. Cobus Reinach will be the only back on the bench covering scrumhalf and wing. Clearly the plan is to use the 9 forwards to prevent Ireland from getting any momentum. The only way the wings will get the ball is if Ireland or Manie Libbok kicks it to them. It will be the pack taking it up, Faf passing to De Allende who will batter it up, rinse and repeat.
(more…)Rienaber has selected all 4 scumhalves in the squad for the game against Romania. Grant Williams starts at wing with Faf covering the flyhalf position from the bench. Manie Libbok is rested with Damian Willemse running the back line. Bongi Mbonambi captains the side with Deon Fourie covering from the bench.
(more…)Canan Moodie and Jean Kleyn were not selected for the Boks’ crucial first WC game on Sunday due to niggles. Rienaber has reverted to De Allende at inside centre, Cheslin Kolbe switches 11 and Jasper Wiese starts at 8. Clearly the plan is to have the old heads of Duane Vermeulen and Willie le Roux on the bench to help close the game out.
(more…)Jake White does have plans to shift to Canan Moodie to outside centre for the Bulls, but Rienaber will pre-empt Jake by using the warmup against the All Blacks to blood Moodie in the 13 jersey.
(more…)Handre Pollard (long term injury), Lukhanyo Am (aggravated the knee injury he just recovered from) and Lood de Jager (struggling with an undisclosed illness) have been left out of the World Cup squad. Am’s misfortune opens the door for Andre Esterhuizen. Very stoked that Grant Williams made the cut and I feel for Thomas du Toit who lost out.
(more…)Coach Rienaber is giving a number of his fringe players a chance to stake a claim for the WC squad. Hopefully this group will manage to put up a better effort than the abysmal showing by the more first choice players at Ellis Park.
(more…)Coach Nienaber has selected 10 players of the group sent ahead to New Zealand, with the rest made up from players that featured against the Wobblies. Having Grant Williams on the bench (can play at wing) allows him to go with another 6-2 split on the bench.
(more…)The Sharks will start the URC with four games in Europe = the first two games against top Irish sides Munster and Leinster.
The Sharks will be without most of their current Boks (due to the RWC). So will the Irish sides be stripped of Irish internationals, but their second tier players fit more seamlessly into their teams and playing style while there is a huge difference in the Sharks with Boks and without.
(more…)Coach Nienaber has split his squad for the Rugby Championship with 14 players leaving for New Zealand this week and the remainder staying behind for the test against the Wallabies at Loftus.
Jean Kleyn will make his debut for the Boks partnering with Marvin Orie with RG Snyman on the bench.
(more…)Joey Mongalo has pretty much rested the bulk of his players used over the last couple of games, and introduced a couple of URC players plus a few others who have not featured recently.
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