Category: Springboks

Libbok on the bench against France

Manie Libbok will likely feature later in the game against France with Damian Willemse retaining the 10 jersey. Rienaber has made a number of changes to the team that lost to Ireland. Franco Mostert slots in for the injured Lood de Jager with Marvin Orie moving onto the bench. Willie le Roux starts in the 15 jersey with Cheslin Kolbe moving back to 14, and Kurt-Lee Arendse moves over to 11. Faf de Klerk starts with Cobus Reinach on the bench. Ox Nche and Bongi Mbonambi swap jerseys with Steven Kitshoff and Malcolm Marx.

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Phepsi at 6 for SA A

The du Preez twins have been called up for the SA A team with Jean-Luc slotting in at 8 while Phepsi will start as the open side flank. I assume Dan du Preez will cover lock. Both Stormers hookers have been selected – so Ruan Nortje and Jason Jenkins can expect a tough time in the lineouts.

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Kolbe takes on Ireland from 15

Cheslin Kolbe has been selected to start at fullback completing a very dangerous back three with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Makazole Mapimpi. Hopefully the inside backs can manage to manipulate the Irish defenses to provide them with some ball in good positions to show their magic. We know they will be chasing box kicks most of the time though.

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Bok / SA A Squads

Sharks Thomas du Toit, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Jaden Hendrikse and Makazole Mapimpi will embark on the end of year tour with the Boks, while Ntuthuko Mchunu, Phepsi Buthelezi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Grant Williams and Aphelele Fassi may feature in the SA A games against Munster and Bristol.

I do think Boeta Chamberlain should have been selected for the A team but I guess that is my Shark prejudice showing.

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Frans Steyn starts at 10

Frans Steyn starts at 10 in place of the concussed Damian Willemse, while PSDT is back at 7. Bongi Mbomambi makes a welcome return on the bench. Vincent Koch replaces the out of sorts Trevor Nyakane on the bench. Kurt-Lee Arendse should also add some zip later in the game.

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Andre on the bench in BA

Rassie Nienaber has kept the same starting team that put away the Wallabies in Sydney, but has selected Elrigh Louw, Faf de Klerk and Andre Esterhuizen on the bench.

The Boks are marginal historical favourites in Argentina in the RC – 4 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw since 2012. However Argentina under Cheika has shown the ability to put away the All Blacks at home. In probably the most competitive Rugby Championship ever the Boks cannot afford to be even the slight bit complacent in any game.

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Wholesale changes for Sydney

Jaques Nienaber has made 9 changes to the team including replacing Lukhanyo Am (out with a knee injury) with Jesse Kriel.

Malcolm Marx will have to get ready to play for at least 65 minutes as Deon Fourie (a very good flank but always struggled with hooker duties) is on the bench. Hookers like Johan Grobbelaar, Kerron van Vuuren and Fez Mbatha back in SA must just be shaking their heads.

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Nienaber sticks to his guns

After the disaster of Ellis Park Jacques Nienaber is sticking to his guns and has selected Joseph Dweba to start at hooker and Duane Vermeulen to start at number 8. We can only hope this will turn out better this time.

Faf de Klerk is back at 9, and Warrick Gelant will be able to bamboozle the Wallabies (as well as his own team) in the 14 jersey. Willie le Roux (only player apart from Damian Willemse than can actually induce some creativity in the Bok back line) has been axed along with Jasper Wiese (who at least went through a lot of work). In turn Frans Steyn and Elton Jantjies have been added to the bench.

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Bok touring squad

Due to Bongi Mbonambi being out injured for 4 weeks, the Boks are only taking one hooker that is comfortable throwing into a lineout under pressure on their tour to Australia and Argentina. Additionally the third hooker is a very good flank who used to be a very poor hooker in his early career. Just madness from Jacques Nienaber – since the lineout and maul forms such a large component of the Bok game plan.

I believe Duane Vermeulen and Frans Steyn have both been some of the greatest Boks of all times, but it is really time to let them retire in peace. Honestly it would serve the Boks better to have players like Evan Roos and Aphelele Fassi being part of the Bok squad.

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Ox back for the Boks

Jacques Nienaber has made five changes to the starting team from last week. Jessie Kriel replaces the injured and banned Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jaden Hendrikse starts and Herschel Jantjies for the concussed Faf de Klerk. Additionally Duane Vermeulen has demoted Jasper Wiese to the bench, Joseph Dweba starts in place of Bongi Mbonambi (out with a injury sustained in training), Malcolm Marx moves back to the bench and Ox Nche starts at loosehead for Trevor Nyakane who drops out of the squad.

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