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In a match played in torrid conditions, Libbok was withdrawn by the South Africa coaching staff with only 31 minutes played while trailing England 9-3 at the time.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.”