“Do this for South African rugby,” says Erasmus
The Springboks have been challenged by Rassie Erasmus to make a resounding statement about the health of South African rugby in the team’s Farewell Test against Argentina at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
Rassie 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 scrumhalf, where Cobus Reinach gets an opportunity to start; while 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.
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. 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,” Erasmus said.
The coach 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. 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,” said Erasmus.
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 flyhalf, centre and fullback with Faf de Klerk the only other back replacement.
“This is a massive test for us against a fired-up Argentina team that will look to end their Test campaign on a high,” Erasmus concluded.
Saturday’s match against Argentina kicks off at 17h05 and tickets are available from www.ticketpro.co.za and the Loftus Versfeld ticket office.
The Springbok team to play Argentina in Pretoria: 15. Warrick Gelant (Bulls), 14. Sbu Nkosi (Sharks), 13. Jesse Kriel (Bulls), 12. André Esterhuizen (Sharks), 11. Dillyn Leyds (Western Province), 10. Elton Jantjies (vice-captain – Lions), 9. Cobus Reinach Northampton, England), 8. Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Northern Ireland) 7. Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), 6. Siya Kolisi (Western Province), 5. Lood de Jager (Bulls), 4. RG Snyman (Bulls), 3. Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), 2. Schalk Brits (captain – Bulls) and 1. Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Replacements: 16. Scarra Ntubeni (Western Province), 17. Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls), 18. Wilco Louw (Western Province), 19. Marvin Orie (Lions), 20. Marco van Staden (Bulls), 21. Kwagga Smith (Lions), 22. Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England) and 23. Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France).
According to Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, no matter what has happened before this coming weekend, the momentum the Springboks will go to the World Cup with will depend on what happens on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld.
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