Rassie has swapped front rows for the final Rugby Championship game. He has kept the rest of the squad the same as in the draw in New Zealand.
The match could decide the winner of the Rugby Championship – a bonus point win against the Pumas will definitely clinch it for the Boks. If the All Blacks cannot manage a bonus point against the Wallabies, a win will do it for the Boks.
Mapimpi, PSDT and Etzebeth remains into the starting team with the rest of the places reserved for the players that flew across earlier. Kwagga Smit will get a chance to prove that he can fit in at test level.
Great to see Frans Steyn on the bench again. In my opinion the Boks will stand zero change at the World Cup unless Steyn starts at inside centre.
Rynhardt Elstadt at open side is a strange selection. However it will be great to see Marcell Coetzee and Frans Steyn running out for the Boks again.
The 15 first choice players should already be on their way to New Zealand, so it should be safe to say that apart from players like PSDT, Lood and Etzebeth coming back from injury the rest in this team would now count as second choice. It also means De Ellendig is likely to start at 12 against the All Blacks.
Andre Esterhuyzen drops out of the match day squad to make place for De Allende. Francois Louw comes in at 8 with Notshe moving down on the bench. Beast and Kitshoff swap places.
Will this Bok team be able to live up to the hype after beating the All Blacks in an epic clash two weeks ago in Wellington, New Zealand?
Only time will tell and that time will be Saturday at 17h00 when they play the Wallabies in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth in the penultimate round of this year’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Vincent Koch has been called up to the squad in place of Thomas du Toit. Rassie still prefers 37 year old Schalk Britz over Akker.
Willie le Roux and Francois Louw have returned to England and will not feature in the two home games for the Boks. Damian De Allende, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi have also been ruled out due to injury.
Rassie has moved Kriel to wing in place of the injured Mapimpi. Am takes his place at 13. An out of sorts Pollard replace Jantjies who at least can kick to goal. Marx takes over the hooker position from Mbonambi. It is clear Rassie does not trust Papier to play in the big games at this stage, and rather than wasting a bench spot has at least brought in the experience of Cronje.
The Boks will be facing a full strength AB team. […]
Jantjies gets another chance in the 10 jersey along the re-united centre pair of de Allende and Kriel. Kolbe will most likely make his debut off the bench.
Rassie has selected Cheslin Kolbe into the Bok squad for Australasia. He has also decided to have another look at the 37 year old Schalk Britz in place of Akker. Jesse Kriel has been favoured over Mapoe. Ross Cronje replaces Ivan van Zyl. Allende is back from injury and Notshe gets another chance.
Rumours of Thor being roped in seems to be unfounded.
PSDT has moved to the bench with Mostert taking his place in the starting team. Louw comes onto the bench in place of Thomas the Tank, and Snyman replaces Orie.
I have a suspicion the the Boks will finish the game with 6. Louw, 7. PSDT and 8. Kolisi or 6. Kolisi, 7. PSDT and 8. Louw
Damian Willemse and Marco van Staden will be on the bench against the Pumas. As has been expected Siya Kolisi shifts to 7 to accommodate Francois Louw at 6.
Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Duane Vermeulen will play a limited role in this year’s Rugby Championship as he intends to function without him in certain games. […]
Kick-off at Nuweland is at 17h05. GO BOKKEEEEE!!!!! […]
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has made numerous changes to the Springbok pack that will face New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday. […]
