Boks kick off biggest week in four years with selections front of mind

The Springboks were able to put their feet up and watch the bulk of the Rugby World Cup action this last weekend without stress, but they will be firmly switched on from Monday when they kick off their preparations for the quarter-final clash against France in Paris on Sunday.

Having enjoyed a bye week, Jacques Nienaber’s men will be fresh and rested ahead of their biggest week of rugby in four years, since winning the World Cup in Japan around this time in 2019.

It was always going to be hosts France or three-time winners New Zealand in the last eight for the Boks, and with the pool stages now done, Nienaber and Co can fully focus on France, who are possibly favourites ahead of the game.

The Tricolours are on home soil, they’ll have their own fans behind them on Sunday and they beat the Boks in their last meeting, 30-26 in Marseille in November last year.

But, the Boks have had France’s number in their last eight meetings: they have won all the other seven Tests between them going back to 2010.

Dupont and Pollard

While the French fans will be on the edge of their seats this week, wondering whether talismanic captain and No 9 Antoine Dupont will be risked in the match, following his cheekbone surgery of just a few days ago, Bok fans will be speculating about the side Nienaber will push into action in Saint-Denis at 9pm on Sunday.

The two big decisions that will interest fans and the French team are those of who’ll be the Boks’ flyhalf in the must-win match — Handre Pollard or Manie Libbok, and will Lukhanyo Am be a surprise pick at No 13, having just joined the squad as an injury replacement for Makazole Mapimpi?

The attack-minded Libbok has more game-time behind him, and is more settled in the team, while Pollard has experience and is possibly a better goal-kicker, while Am also brings experience, but in Jesse Kriel the Boks have an equally seasoned man at No 13, while young Canan Moodie, who’s played outside centre in a few big game already, brings X-factor.

Vermeulen

Also, will the experienced and cool-headed Duane Vermeulen edge Jasper Wiese, who’s started in the Boks’ big games at the World Cup, for the No 8 jersey?

The Boks’ other big call will be on how to split their replacements on the bench — will they go for the traditional 5-3 split of forwards to backs, or favour six forwards and two backs, and if they go this route, who will the key backline substitutes be?

The Boks qualified for the last-eight by finishing second in Pool B (behind Ireland) following wins against Scotland, Romania and Tonga, and a loss to Ireland, while France topped Pool A following four wins, against New Zealand, Uruguay, Namibia and Italy.

The matchday-23 is likely to be announced on Tuesday evening.