1
Faf de Klerk starts as Springboks make three changes for All Blacks
Faf de Klerk has been recalled to start by the Springboks in this Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener at home to the All Blacks in Nelspruit. The former Sale scrum-half, who switched to the Japanese Top League at the end of the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership season, was No9 for last month’s Test series opener versus Wales.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, de Klerk missed the second Test completely before making a 15-minute cameo from the bench in the third Test win that handed the Springboks their 2-1 series victory. He now takes over against New Zealand, getting the call ahead of Jaden Hendrikse in one of three changes made by head coach Jacques Nienaber.
Malcolm Marx will earn his 50th Test cap, running out at hooker in place of Bongi Mbonambi in another rotational change by the Springboks whose only injury-enforced alteration is on the right wing where Kurt-Lee Arendse will earn his second Test cap in place of Cheslin Kolbe, who is recovering from a broken jaw.
Both Mbonambi and Hendrikse will play off the replacements bench, where the only other change is the inclusion of Salmaan Moerat (lock) in the place of Elrigh Louw (loose forward).
“One of the changes to the starting team was injury-enforced with Kurt-Lee coming in for Cheslin. With Malcolm, we feel it is a big occasion to play one’s 50th Test so it will be good for him to start. We believe Faf’s experience and style of play will complement our game against the All Blacks,” explained Nienaber on why Arendse, Marx and de Klerk will all start for the Springboks.
“These changes resulted in direct swaps to the bench for Bongi and Jaden, and with Salmaan covering lock we can either use Franco (Mostert) at lock or flanker, and we have Kwagga (Smith) who can also provide cover in the loose trio and even on the wing if needs be.
“We played two Tests with a similar team in the Castle Lager Incoming Series and we feel this is the right squad for this specific challenge against New Zealand. The All Blacks are strong all around and they will come to Nelspruit desperate to avenge their series defeat against Ireland and to prove that they remain one of the powerhouses in world rugby, so we believe experience and physicality will be vital in this Test.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The Springboks and All Blacks have a unique rivalry, and we always bring the best out of one another. They will play a different style of rugby to Wales, and we have been preparing for that, and like many of the northern hemisphere teams, their set pieces are strong, and they have fantastic skills in their backline, so we’ll have to be at our best to register a win.
Springboks (vs New Zealand, Saturday)
15. Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 18 caps, 12 pts (1t, 2c, 1p)
14. Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap 0 pts
13. Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 28 caps, 25 pts (5t)
12. Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 60 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 27 caps, 100 pts (20t)
10. Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 62 caps, 633 pts (7t, 86c, 138p, 4d)
9. Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 38 caps, 25pts (5t)
8. Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 13 caps, 0 pts
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 60 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6. Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 65 caps, 35 pts (7t)
5. Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 58 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4. Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 100 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3. Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 48 caps, 5pts (1t)
2. Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 49 caps, 55 pts (11t)
1. Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) – 56 caps, 5pts (1t)
Replacements:
16. Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 50 caps, 55 pts (11t)
17. Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 61 caps, 5pts (1t)
18. Vincent Koch (Wasps) 34 caps, 0 pts
19. Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers) – 1 cap, O pts
20. Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 53 caps, 5pts (1t)
21. Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 21 caps, 5 pts (1t)
22. Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) – 4 caps, 5 pts (1t)
23. Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 74 caps, 60 pts (12t)
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments