Nienaber named a new-look backline that includes the versatile Damian Willemse at fullback, with Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi again on the wings, whereas the common centre pairing of Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am will once more companion up within the midfield.
Jacques Nienaber. Picture: SARugby.co.za
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made 11 changes to his beginning lineup for the workforce’s Castle Lager Incoming Series decider against Wales in Cape Town on Saturday as Eben Etzebeth earns his one hundredth Test cap and Bongi Mbonambi his fiftieth.
Etzebeth, who made his Springbok debut in June 2012 against England, will develop into the seventh participant to achieve the numerous profession milestone, following within the footsteps of Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana, Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit, Jean de Villiers and Percy Montgomery.
Nienaber named a new-look backline that includes the versatile Damian Willemse at fullback, with Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi again on the wings, whereas the common centre pairing of Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am will once more companion up within the midfield.
The Bok coach retained the halfback pairing of Handre Pollard and Jaden Hendrikse within the backline, whereas common Bok captain Siya Kolisi reclaims the captaincy in unfastened trio with Pieter-Steph du Toit (flanker) and Jasper Wiese (No 8).
The different changes up entrance see Lood de Jager pair up with Etzebeth within the second row, whereas Nienaber named a brand new entrance row of props Trevor Nyakane and Frans Malherbe on both facet of Mbonambi, who made his debut off the bench against Ireland in June 2016 and can develop into the forty fifth Bok to achieve half a century of Test caps.
There have been an array of changes among the many replacements, which once more incorporates a cut up of six forwards and two backs, with Steven Kitshoff (prop), Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith (utility forwards), and Elrigh Louw (flanker) that includes alongside scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and fullback Willie le Roux.
While Nienaber was pleased with the exceptional profession milestones for Etzebeth and Mbonambi, he mentioned the match was important for the complete workforce with a Castle Lager Incoming Series victory at stake.
“We are very proud of Eben and Bongi for their achievements, although it would be remiss of us as a team for that to out-shadow the fact that we need to win on Saturday to seal the series against Wales,” mentioned Nienaber.
“Wales have shown over the years and in the last two matches that they are real fighters, and it will require a top-class performance from us on Saturday to register a victory and ultimately clinch the series.
“That said, Eben and Bongi have been true stalwarts to Springbok rugby, and we hope that we can make this a special occasion for them. No one wants to remember losing their 100th or 50th Test, so we need to do everything we can to win the match.”
Of his workforce choice, Nienaber mentioned: “We selected a team and player combinations that we think will be the best for this specific game.
“We had an honest discussion with the players telling them what we require from them this weekend and what we would like to see in terms of their performance and hopefully they can produce the goods and we can get the desired result.
“We have high standards as a team, and we would like to maintain that and build momentum with a challenging season lying ahead.”
Nienaber anticipated one other courageous effort from Wales and mentioned: “We pointed out from the outset of the series that Wales will be desperate and they showed that in the last two weeks.
“We are expecting another hard grind against them and the fact that they will be playing for their first series victory ever in South Africa will make them even more desperate to push us to the limit this weekend, so we know it will be an epic battle.
“That said, we are also playing in what is essentially a final for us and we know that we need to pitch up on the day and deliver a quality 80-minute performance to emerge victorious.”
Springbok workforce to face Wales in Cape Town:
15 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 17 caps, 12 pts (1t, 2c, 1p)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon) – 19 caps 18pts, 50pts (10t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 27 caps, 25 pts (5t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 59 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 26 caps, 100 pts (20t)
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 61 caps, 613 pts (6t, 83c, 131p, 4d)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) – 3 caps, 5 pts (1t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 12 caps, 0 pts
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 59 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 64 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 57 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 99 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 47 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 49 caps, 50 pts (10t)
1 – Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) – 55 caps, 5pts (1t)
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 48 caps, 55 pts (11t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 60 caps, 5pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Wasps) 33 caps, 0 pts
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 52 caps, 5pts (1t)
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 20 caps, 5 pts (1t)
21 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap, 0pts
22 – Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 37caps, 25pts (5t)
23 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 73 caps, 60 pts (12t)