Category: Springboks

Rasnaber has selected exactly the same team for the first time in the World Cup (and apparently only the second time since 2018). I was expecting players like Malherbe, Etzebeth and Vermeulen to have a break after a real challenging game against France.

England will come out storming and snorting but the Boks should still have too much ammo for the Roses to beat them. The Boks had a two week break before the France game (and many players three) so they should still be relatively fresh. It will be tough to fully get up mentally after that roller coaster last week, but playing most South Africans’ least favourite team will certainly motivate the Boks.

Rienaber has gone for a rare 5-3 split on the bench with both Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok in the squad. Bongi is rested with Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden selected at hooker.

Eben Etzebeth (risky IMO) starts along with Marvin Orie with Franco Mostert covering lock on the bench. Andre Esterhuizen and Canan Moodie will feature in midfield with Grant Williams again selected as wing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Coach Rienaber has selected Malcolm Marx to start with the out of sorts Bongi Mbonambi set to make an impact from the bench. However he has left RG Snyman on the bench with Marvin Orie (who played pretty well against the Ozzies but not in the same league) getting another start. Trevor Nyakane will get a chance later in the game to make his case to be the utility prop in the squad.

Manie Libbok is back at 10 (just much more comfortable than Damian Willemse) and is partnered by Grant Williams (really stoked for Grant as it means his chances of making the World Cup squad is looking better by the day).

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.