Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus need to heed this appeal with urgency if the Springboks are to defend their Rugby World Cup title in France.
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It is time to diffuse the bomb squad – from the beginning.
Furthermore, certain first team regulars are just not performing up to the standards needed for South Africa to be world-beaters that can conquer sides like New Zealand, Ireland and France away from home. I wrote this for Nienaber and Rassie on behalf of thousands of Bok supports, many analysts and with a clear theme having emerged over the last three to four years.
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OPEN LETTER TO NIENABER AND RASSIE:
Dear Nienaber and Rassie, please start your best players and give them 60-70 minutes as opposed to 30-40. It is too much pressure on the players who would flourish having more time to grow into the game and express their talents. It is time to drop Bongi Mbonambi, Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert. The Springboks are a different team when Marx starts thanks to his remarkable ability at the break down. Lood on the other hand, has not hit peak form for the Boks for many seasons now while RG Snyman is hungry, agile and more athletic well offering a similiar amount of heights in the lineout and bulk up front. Take nothing away from Mbonambi but he is not as influential as Marx.
On the other hand, Mostert is good but he is a lock and he looked out of position at flank against NZ. Pieter-Steph du Toit has to start although this has likely always been the plan as he started against Australia and was just being rested. Let us unleash our best on the world and then we can certainly conquer world rugby and successfully defend our world cup trophy in France.
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HUNGRIER PLAYERS IN BETTER FORM THAN FIRST TEAM REGULARS
Finally, regulars Faf de Klerk, Damien de Allende and Makazole Mapimpi are not in good form and they have hungrier players who deserve a chance to stake their claim before the Rugby World Cup. Additionally, Marco van Staden is hungry and deserves a chance to stake his claim.
Grant Williams has looked lively and sharp off the bench and he deserves to start against Argentina at Ellis Park. Andre Esterhuizen too, he is passionate. Then, Kurt-lee Arendse has been nothing short of breathtaking for the Springboks. The dynamic, agile and skillful winger has notched up 10 tries in eight games and he deserves to start.
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LIBBOK AND ARENDSE DESERVE TO START
Mapimpi has served SA Rugby well and he is solid but last season and this season he has been a shadow of his former self while Arendse has left players chasing his shadow. It is essential we have a regular kicker in Manie Libbok at 10 so Damien Willemse should not start.
He is a brilliant rugby player but he does not start at flyhalf for the Stormers and is better utilized as a fullback.
HOW WE SHOULD LINE-UP AGAINST ARGENTINA:
- Steven Kitshoff
- Malcolm Marx
- Frans Malherbe
- Eben Etzebeth
- RG Snyman
- Marco van Staden
- Pieter-Steph du Toit
- Jasper Wiese/Duane Vermeulen
- Grant Williams
- Manie Libbok
- Kurt-lee Arendse
- Andre Esterhuizen
- Lukhanyo Am
- Cheslin Kolbe
- Willie le Roux
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