Erasmus names experience squad for Ireland showdown in Pretoria

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named an experienced squad featuring 20 Rugby World Cup-winners – the entire starting 15 and five players on the replacements’ bench – for their opening Castle Lager Incoming Series Test against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, in what is expected to be a humdinger of an encounter between the top two ranked teams in the world.

The three players in the match-day 23 who did not participate in the international spectacle in France, where the Springboks claimed their second successive RWC title, are Gerhard Steenekamp (prop), Salmaan Moerat (lock) and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (utility back), who are elevated to a selection featuring a six-two bench split in favour of the forwards.

Twelve of the starting XV for Saturday’s showdown (six forwards and six backs) started in the 12-11 RWC final victory over New Zealand, with the other three (Willie le Roux, Kwagga Smith and Ox Nche) coming off the bench in the final.

The selection of previously unavailable players means that the team shows eight changes to the one that defeated Wales by 41-13 in London 10 days ago as Erasmus welcomed back captain Siya Kolisi, Le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handre Pollard, Marco van Staden, RG Snyman and Steenekamp.

“This is the team we believe will give us the impetus we need against Ireland, who are the second highest ranked team in the world. We are blessed to have a lot of depth in our squad, and we are in a fortunate position to have several Rugby World Cup-winners in our ranks who know what it takes to perform at the highest level and play against the best teams in the world,” said Erasmus.

Erasmus said he was in a fortunate position to be able to call on so much Rugby World Cup winning experience.

He is also excited to see what dimension Steenekamp, Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Moerat would bring to the game – in what will mark Steenekamp and Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s second Test matches.

“Gerhard made a strong statement in the front row against Argentina in Buenos Aires last year and we were equally pleased with how easily Sacha slotted in and the contribution he made against Wales. Sacha, similarly to Grant (Williams), also offers us additional options in the backline, as he can cover flyhalf and centre, while Grant is efficient at scrumhalf and wing, which places us in a good position with the six-two split,” he remarked.

Erasmus expected a physical onslaught from the visitors in front of a sold-out Loftus Versfeld crowd and said it would be a full-out battle for 80 minutes.

 Springbok team to face Ireland at Loftus Versfeld:

15 – Willie le Roux (Bulls) – 93 caps.

14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 31 caps.

13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 67 caps, 80 points (16t)

12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 78 caps.

11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls) – 15 caps.

10 – Handré Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 69 caps.

9 – Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 56 caps.

8 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 41 caps.

7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) 78 caps.

6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92) – 83 caps.

5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 74 caps.

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Sharks) – 120 caps.

3 – Frans Malherbe (Stormers) – 70 caps.

2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks) – 69 caps.

1 – Ox Nche (Sharks) – 28 caps.

 

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 65 caps.

17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls) – 1 cap.

18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 50 caps.

19 – Salmaan Moerat (Stormers) – 4 caps.

20 – RG Snyman (Leinster) – 34 caps.

21 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 18 caps.

22 – Grant Williams (Sharks) – 9 caps.

23 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers) – 1 cap.

 

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