On Tuesday, Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber named a team displaying 5 modifications and two positional switches from the facet that ran out in opposition to Ireland final weekend. The second Test on the Outgoing Tour in opposition to France kicks off at 22h00 (SA time) on the Stade Vélodrome.
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Before the tour kicked off, the Bok coaches acknowledged that the significance of goal-kicking consistency was very a lot prime of thoughts, however some issues instantly arose within the conflict in opposition to Ireland as Damian Willemse missed an everyday shot at posts. Cheslin Kolbe quickly took over the goal-kicking duties, but additionally missed a few pictures as he adjusted to this accountability.
When answering a query from The South African about whether or not goal-kicking was a selected focus space as soon as once more this week, Nienaber paused and mentioned he needed to reply with as a lot element as attainable.
“The only way they’ll get better to handle that pressure is to play under that kind of pressure. I don’t want to call Damian our third choice because although we know he’s only playing his fourth Test at No 10, we know the quality of the player. He might have 25 Tests under his belt, but it’s only the fourth time he’s had to take the goal-kicking duties because we had the other guys present.
“In 2018, we started with Handre (Pollard) and Elton (Jantjies), who started the majority of our Test matches. Our backup 10 had to be a seasoned international player in Frans Steyn. Unfortunately, we are where we are in that all three aren’t available…
“We’re working on it, like we do always. They measure their kicks, every one’s distance and accuracy. We can tell you the kicking percentage in training. We are working incredibly hard and the players are taking it incredibly seriously. But the most senior flyhalf we have is Damian. That’s our reality.”
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Nienaber additionally implied that Kolbe will retain the goal-kicking duties on Saturday.
“Cheslin has kicked for Toulouse when [Romain] Ntamack was injured and on French duty and he kicked well for them,” mentioned Nienaber. “It’s not something Cheslin needs to get used to, but it is something Damian needs to get used to, and the only way for him to do so is by kicking in Test matches.
“It’s a different pressure when you have to kick for your country with the Bok emblem on your chest in front of around 60,000 people.”
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Springboks report in opposition to France:
Played 44; Won 27; Lost 11; Drawn 6; Points for: 939, Points in opposition to: 662; Tries scored 105, Tries conceded 59; Highest rating 52-10; Biggest win 42 factors. Win % 61%.
Milestones:
- Jesse Kriel is the one participant within the squad who has scored a couple of strive in opposition to France. He is presently on three tries.
- Siya Kolisi holds essentially the most Test caps in opposition to France within the Springbok squad, with six Tests performed.
- Eben Etzebeth is the second most capped Springbok lock with 107 Tests.
- Makazole Mapimpi will characteristic off the bench for the primary time in his Test profession
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Miscellaneous:
- The complete Test caps for the Springbok beginning line-up is 725.
- There are 278 caps within the backline, with 447 caps amongst the forwards. On the bench there are an additional 255
- The common caps per participant within the backline are 39, the forwards 55, whereas the gamers on the bench common 31.
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Teams
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Makazole Mapimpi.
France – TBC
