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Springboks name team to face Argentina
The Springboks have been challenged by Rassie Erasmus to make a resounding statement about the health of South African rugby in the team’s Test against Argentina at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
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Erasmus, the SA Rugby director of rugby, unleashed a new-look team to take on the Pumas on Wednesday, packed with players looking to secure a place in South Africa’s Rugby World Cup squad.
Eighteen of the team featured in the Rugby Championship-winning campaign but also included are five ‘newcomers’ in the returning Siya Kolisi, Thomas du Toit and Wilco Louw (prop), Marco van Staden (loose forward) and potential debutant Scarra Ntubeni (hooker).
Kolisi has been named in the starting XV for a cameo role as he continues his carefully managed rehabilitation from a knee injury while the team is captained for the first time by the experienced Schalk Brits (hooker), who becomes the second oldest Springbok captain at 38 years and three months, and makes his first start in the green and gold since 2008.
The backline that helped overwhelm Australia at Emirates Airline Park a month ago has been reunited with the exception of scrum-half, where Cobus Reinach gets an opportunity to start.
BREAKING! Boks name formidable pack and dangerous backs for Pretoria?
?Unique new record for Schalk Brits
??Cameo role planned for Siya Kolisi
1?Potential Test debut for Scarra Ntubeni? https://t.co/xcLkr8NS7R#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/F2nGsdPsqM
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 14, 2019
The pack features a new front row, a mighty Bulls locking combination and a first start of the season for Marcell Coetzee alongside Kolisi and Rynhardt Elstadt.
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The Springboks have lost only once in their past six Tests, gathering the momentum and consistency requested of them by Erasmus, and he has charged Saturday’s Boks to up the ante.
“No matter what has happened before this weekend, the momentum we will go to the World Cup with will depend on what happens on Saturday,” Erasmus said.
Just when it was all going swimmingly, the Springboks have encountered a headachehttps://t.co/BlS3VDpUaC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 14, 2019
“Some of these players will know they are on the plane but for others, it is make or break – and even if they don’t make the plane there will be six standby roles to be identified.
“We’ve picked a formidable pack and we saw what the backline did against Australia so I am really excited to see what they can do on Saturday to prove their own case and also show just how strong South African rugby is.”
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Erasmus said Brits had temporarily taken the captaincy as Kolisi’s role was likely to be a short one. “I’ve asked Siya to empty his tank and go as hard for as long as he can,” he said. “I’ve told him he might even come off in the first half. He has played less than 50 minutes of Currie Cup rugby in the last 12 weeks but I needed him to have a taste of Test rugby again before we leave for Japan.”
How the RC Champions went in their last game. https://t.co/Hei8vkHIVf
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 11, 2019
Vice-captain Elton Jantjies will take over the leadership role in the event of Brits being replaced – opening the way for a debut by Ntubeni. The Stormers hooker toured with the Springboks in 2013 and 2014 but has had a long wait to pull on the jersey for the first time in a Test.
Erasmus said the split between six forwards and two backs on the bench was to provide extra loose forward cover for Kolisi’s cameo return. Frans Steyn would cover all of fly-half, centre and full-back with Faf de Klerk the only other back replacement.
Season sensation Herschel Jantjies was slated to provide scrum-half cover but he was withdrawn on Tuesday following a blow to his head in training. It is not expected to affect his potential inclusion in the World Cup squad.
“This is a massive Test for us against a fired-up Argentina team that will be looking to end their Test campaign on a high,” said Erasmus. “We’ve gained momentum over the Rugby Championship – the last thing we want to do is lose it.”
The Springbok team to play Argentina in Pretoria (in order of name, franchise or club, caps and points):
15. Warrick Gelant (Bulls), 6, 5 (1t)
14. Sbu Nkosi (Sharks), 7, 25 (5t)
13. Jesse Kriel (Bulls), 43, 60 (12t)
12. André Esterhuizen (Sharks), 7, 0
11. Dillyn Leyds (Western Province), 9 5 (1t)
10. Elton Jantjies (vice-captain – Lions), 34, 239 (2t, 47c, 45p)
9. Cobus Reinach (Northampton), 11, 15 (3t)
8. Marcell Coetzee (Ulster) 29, 30 (6t)
7. Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse), 1, 0
6. Siya Kolisi (Western Province), 41, 25 (5t)
5. Lood de Jager (Bulls), 39, 25 (5t)
4. RG Snyman (Bulls), 14, 0
3. Vincent Koch (Saracens), 14, 0
2. Schalk Brits (captain – Bulls), 12, 5 (1t)
1. Thomas du Toit (Sharks), 9, 0
Replacements:
16. Scarra Ntubeni (Western Province), uncapped
17. Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls), 1, 0
18. Wilco Louw (Western Province), 12, 0
19. Marvin Orie (Lions), 2, 0
20. Marco van Staden (Bulls), 2, 0
21. Kwagga Smith (Lions), 3, 0
22. Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks), 23, 15 (3t)
23. Frans Steyn (Montpellier) 59, 132 (10t, 5c, 21p, 3d)
WATCH: Rassie Erasmus talks to the media following South Africa’s Rugby Championship title win
Comments on RugbyPass
Should've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to comments