Manie Libbok thrown World Cup final lifeline by Nienaber after first-half axing
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has explained the decision behind replacing his starting fly-half Manie Libbok after only 30 minutes for Handre Pollard in his side's 16-15 World Cup semi-final victory over England at the Stade de France, saying "it's for South Africa".
In a match played in torrid conditions, Libbok was withdrawn by the South Africa coaching staff with only 31 minutes played while trailing England 9-3 at the time. Pollard went on to kick eight points, including a clutch, long range match-winning penalty with just minutes remaining in his player of the match performance.
Speaking after the match, Nienaber cited other incidents where he and Rassie Erasmus have removed players before half-time, saying sometimes it was just for "that specific day". He stressed how the players went on to start the following week before suggesting Libbok will be in contention to start next week in the World Cup final against the All Blacks.
"The beauty of this group is we are open and honest, and because we have the right players, the players accept it," Nienaber said.
"Sometimes things aren’t going your way. We did it with Bongi [Mbonambi] in 2018. We took him off after 30 minutes. He was just, for that specific day, he was just not on fire. But he started the next week again.The same with the guy like Willie [le Roux], we took him off early, because things didn't go his way.
"The main thing is everything is for the team, and they understand that and that's the beauty of the squad. We're open and honest and players take it on the chin and it doesn't mean that he won't start next week. It's just unfortunately sometimes it's like that.
"I think every single opportunity where we got we utilized, both him and Handre. The kick that he also kicked at the beginning was a tough one. But listen, that's how it is, it's for South Africa. It's not for the individual, it's not for the ego, it's for South Africa."
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> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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