Grant Williams has been promoted to start, while Aphelele Fassi (who played really well apart from one poor clearance kick) drops out of the squad and is replaced by Willie le Roux. Handre Pollard starts the game at 10 with Sacha dropping to the bench. Lukhanyo Am joins Jaden Hendrikse on the bench. The Boks will have no lock cover on the bench with PSDT covering from the blind side.
(more…)Correction: John Plumtree has taken over the coaching in the Currie Cup with JPP returning to coaching the U/21 team. He has selected 12 URC players into the match day squad for the game against the Griffons. One has to feel for the young players that has been doing so well but with the first URC game a few weeks away it is important that the URC squad starts getting some match practice.
(more…)Rassie is resting a number of his first choice players such as Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Siya Kolisi, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Willie le Roux. Aphelele Fassi, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Morne van den Berg, Ruan Nortje, Salmaan Moerat, Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels will get another chance to impress for the Boks.
(more…)Coach JPP has made minimal changes to the team that drew against the Pumas last Saturday. Mawande Mdanda starts at tighthead in the place of Trevor Nyakane. Jaden Hendrikse starts at 9 and Yaw Penxe replaces Jaco Williams at wing. Anthony Volmink moves onto the bench.
(more…)Rassie has selected Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to start at 10 in the first game of the Rugby Championship. He is paired with Cobus Reinach with Grant Williams on the bench.
Kwagga Smith has been moved back into his impact role from the bench with the more physical Elrigh Louw selected to start at 8. Malcolm Marx is back on the bench after recovering from the knee injury picked up being croc-rolled in the game against Ireland.
(more…)Coach JPP has made a few changes to the team that beat the Lions. Trevor Nyakane comes in to strengthen the scrums with Tino Mavesere back at open side. Eduan Keyter will start the match. Chris Horak should make his Currie Cup debut later in the game.
(more…)Coach JPP has selected another inexperienced team with 3 debutants in the starting lineup and another 4 on the bench. It is a long season and it does make sense for the URC players to get a decent break before the long season starts again in September. In the mean time these inexperienced teams will get smashed week after week – must be frustrating for coaches and players alike.
(more…)Coach JPP have lost a number of Boks for the test against Portugal, and it seems players like Jordan Hendrikse, Siya Masuku, Ethan Hooker, Corne Rahl, etc. are still being rested (my assumption for lack of more information).
(more…)Salmaan Moerat will captain the Boks against Portugal with only Kurt-Lee Arendse retained from the backline from last Saturday.
Aphelele Fassi, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Phepsi Buthelezi, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Trevor Nyakane will all feature in the team with Phepsi Buthelezi due to get his first Bok cap at open side. It seems Rassie agree with Plumtree that Phepsi’s future lies at the side of the scrum.
(more…)JP Pietersen has selected a strong team containing 5 capped Boks (Mchunu, Nyakane, Mapimpi, Esterhuizen and Fassi) to start against the Griquas in Kimberley. Phepsi Buthelezi will also feature in the blind side flank position with Nick Hatton retaining the number 8 jersey.
(more…)