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Erasmus changes flyhalves as Springboks look for answers
By Online Editors
Handré Pollard will start at flyhalf for the Springboks on Saturday when they take on the All Blacks in Wellington, while Malcolm Marx and Lukhanyo Am are also back in the starting line-up for the Boks’ final away match in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Rassie Erasmus, SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby, announced his Springbok match-23 on Thursday afternoon in the New Zealand capital, with three changes and one positional switched confirmed in the starting line-up.
Three of those changes are in the backline, while Erasmus also made some tweaks to the bench.
Pollard comes into the starting line-up and Elton Jantjies is set to play off the bench. Jesse Kriel is picked on the right wing as a result of the injury to Makazole Mapimpi, who has returned to South Africa to undergo further scans on his right knee.
As a result, Am takes Kriel’s position at outside centre and partners Damian de Allende in a new-look midfield combination.
The only change to the pack sees Marx rotating starting places with Bongi Mbonambi in the No 2 jersey and amongst the reserves, Ross Cronje swaps places with Embrose Papier as the backup scrumhalf.
Erasmus emphasised that the Springboks will have to reduce the amount of costly errors against New Zealand.
“We have to deliver a much-improved performance against the All Blacks,” said Erasmus.
“Keeping our discipline and retaining possession will be key, because New Zealand’s ability to counter from turnover ball is well-known.
“That means we have to be patient, our decision-making must be good and we have to capitalise on the opportunities that we create. The traditional rivalry between the two countries mean we can expect a huge physical battle.”
The Springbok team to face the All Blacks in Wellington (with franchise/club, Test caps):
15. Willie le Roux (Wasps, England), 47
14. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 33
13. Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), 5
12. Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), 31
11. Aphiwe Dyantyi (Emirates Lions), 6
10. Handré Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), 32
9. Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), 17
8. Warren Whiteley (Emirates Lions), 20
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 39
6. Siya Kolisi (captain, DHL Stormers), 34
5. Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), 23
4. Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), 70
3. Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), 22
2. Malcolm Marx (Emirates Lions), 17
1. Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), 30
Replacements:
16. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 19
17. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 104
18. Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers), 9
19. RG Snyman (Vodacom Bulls), 5
20. Francois Louw (Bath, England, 60
21. Ross Cronjé (Emirates Lions), 10
22. Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), 27
23. Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), 1
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Latest Comments
I didn't mean to sound down on Dmac. Just looking hard at the bench sub's role of providing impact. I don't think he can do that at 15, and the bench is not really about injury cover anymore (you need to maximise it's use more than that).
He's my first choice of any New Zealander for the 10 jersey with the All Blacks.
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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