Category: Springboks

Coach Nienaber has decided to revert back to Willemse (10), De Allende (12) and Kriel (13). This means Damian Willemse (55% success rate in 2022) and Faf de Klerk will have to take the place kicks until Manie Libbok comes on in the second half. A backline with Libbok, Willemse and De Allende (or even Libbok, De Allende and Willemse) would have made sure a decent place kicker plays most of the game, and will also be run much better from 10.

Andre Esterhuizen will start at 12 with Damian de Allende shifting to 13. Jasper Wiese is back at 8 with Franco Mostert moving to 7. Marvin Orie and Salmaan Moerat will be the starting locks with Eben Etzebeth moving to the bench. Evan Roos should get his second Bok cap later in the game.

Aphelele Fassi has sustained an ankle injury and will be out for 8 weeks. Gianni Lombard will start in the fullback jersey with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu replacing Johan Goosen who will cover the backline along with Sanele Nohamba. Marco van Staden will provide more balance to the loose trio with Phepsi Buthelezi moving down to the bench. JJ Kotze and Mornay Smith should feature later in the second half.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.