Staff Reporter.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has recalled the experienced trio of Lood de Jager, Elton Jantjies and Frans Steyn for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand in Townsville.
Nienaber has made five changes to the match-day squad for the Test against the All Blacks, with Trevor Nyakane remaining at loosehead prop for his 50th Test cap. Two of the changes are in the starting line-up, and three more on the bench, which feature a five-three split this week.
The other change in the starting line-up is at blindside flank where Kwagga Smith is promoted from the bench in a direct switch with Franco Mostert, who will serve as impact player this week in a rotational switch to manage his workload.
Elton Jantjies and Steyn are the new players amongst the replacements, with Steyn set to provide cover at centre and fullback, and Elton Jantjies at flyhalf, while Herschel Jantjies will cover scrumhalf.
With Jasper Wiese’s fate yet to be decided following a delay in his disciplinary hearing for foul play at a ruck, which was held earlier on Tuesday, Marco van Staden and Mostert – who covers lock and loose forward – are set to spark some energy later in the game, much like the replacement front row of Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Kock (both props) and Malcolm Marx (hooker).
Nienaber explained that this particular selection was a balancing act.
“If you want to get a result against New Zealand then you have to test them in various areas,” Nienaber said.
“Physicality is obviously one area we enjoy, but you can’t only bring physicality, you need to test them in more than one department. You have to look at the balance of your pack and weigh up ball-carriers against players who can cover width and scramble for you.
“We have a lot of strong ball-carriers in the pack and Kwagga can carry in a different way with his evasion skills and timing of his carries, he brings those Sevens skills. You don’t want to have too many of the one kind of player.
“Franco has been a real stalwart for us this season, playing 80 minutes after 80 minutes, and moving him to the bench is purely to give him a bit of a break.”
The Springbok backline has also missed some cutting thrust, and Nienaber has looked to boost that department by returning to a 5-3 bench, with Elton Jantjies and Francois Steyn recalled to the matchday squad.
Springbok team:
Willie le Roux, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Duane Vermeulen, Kwagga Smith, Siya Kolisi (captain), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane.
Bench: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden, Herschel Jantjies, Elton Jantjies, Francois Steyn.
Englishman Luke Pearce is the referee for this Test, with South Africa’s Jaco Peyer and Australia’s Angus Gardner serving as assistant referees and Australia’s Damon Murphy on television match official (TMO) duty.
Saturday’s Test, which will be the 100th between the old rivals, kicks off at 09:05 (SA time).