TEST WEEK: Wales legend slams ‘disrespectful’ Bok ‘B-team’

Coach Jacques Nienaber named two uncapped gamers within the Boks’ beginning lineup and an additional 4 among the many replacements as he dramatically overhauled his squad to construct depth for his or her second Test towards Wales within the Incoming Series on the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Only three gamers within the match-23 retained their locations within the squad from final week’s 32-29 victory within the opening Test towards Wales, particularly skilled lock Eben Etzebeth, who will earns his 99^th cap for South Africa on Saturday, whereas prop Vincent Koch and utility again Damian Willemse have been included on the bench.

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Legendary former Wales scrumhalf Gareth Edwards has stated the Boks took it too far by making so many adjustments.

“If there had been five or six changes, you would maybe have raised an eyebrow. But 14 changes? It’s overwhelming,” the British & Irish Lions nice advised BBC Sport. “I don’t think it shows respect for Wales and, looking logically, there is only one way to view it and that’s to give them a good tonking, as they say…

“I think it is great motivation for Wales. First and foremost, beat them. I think they [Wales players] are probably talking to each other and saying ‘Right boys, that’s what they think of us’.

“It is a great opportunity to beat them and say ‘Thank you very much for picking that team’.”

Although a number of pundits – equivalent to Edwards – have recommended the unconventional crew overhaul might be seen as a case of ‘devaluing’ this weekend’s second Test, Nienaber rubbished such claims.

“I don’t think I’d take offence, but Handre and Eben [Etzebeth] will. Our biggest strategic objective will always be to keep momentum, which is to win. We’ve picked a side we believe can beat Wales,” the Bok boss commented.

“We want to tick a fair few boxes in this series. This selection strategy isn’t unique. People may ask why we’re making so many changes, but France are doing it too and they’re definitely not labelling their squad in Japan a B-team.

“Sure, there are a few guys being left behind but it doesn’t mean they are weakened. Wales did the same in the Six Nations against Italy, they didn’t disrespect them, they just felt there were other answers on offer in that match.”

Among the uncapped contingent, two gamers who’ve been in sizzling type just lately, Kurt-Lee Arendse (exterior again) and Evan Roos (No 8), have been handed begins, whereas Ntuthuko Mchunu (prop), Ruan Nortje (lock), Deon Fourie (utility ahead) and Grant Williams (scrumhalf) might make their debuts off the bench.

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Arendse takes over from Cheslin Kolbe on the best wing, and will probably be an unimaginable alternative for the speedster, who’s a really comparable participant to Kolbe in some ways.

Roos will earn a begin at No 8 after a exceptional season for the Stormers within the URC, and will probably be fascinating to see what he can provide now at worldwide degree.

Mchunu is seen as a future star at loosehead prop, whereas Ruan Nortje, Deon Fourie are Grant Williams are all rewarded for spectacular type for his or her respective golf equipment in the course of the URC.

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Nienaber burdened that whereas constructing successful momentum was very important because the worldwide season picks up steam, one of many key aspects for the crew was constructing depth, particularly with an eye fixed on subsequent yr’s Rugby World Cup.

“We said from the outset that we needed to strike a balance between giving our talented young players an opportunity to show what they can do at international level, and winning,” stated the Boks’ coach.

“If one appears to be like on the steadiness between gamers who’ve performed at this degree and people who have carried out persistently properly for his or her franchises and golf equipment, I feel we’ve got a pleasant steadiness on this squad.

“A lot of these gamers have been with us for just a few seasons, whereas others travelled with us final season to Australia for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and the year-end tour, after which there are just a few new faces who confirmed in the course of the season that they’ve the potential to rise to this degree of the sport, so we’re excited to see what they will do on Saturday.”

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Bok crew to face Wales in Bloemfontein

15 – Warrick Gelant (Racing 92) 9 caps, 15 pts (3t)
14 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 51 caps, 60 pts (12t)
12 – Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins) 8 caps, 0 pts
11 – Aphelele Fassi (Cell C Sharks) 2 caps, 10 pts (2t)
10 – Handre Pollard (captain – Leicester) 60 caps, 601 pts (6t, 83c, 131p, 4d)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) 2 caps, 5 pts (1t)
8 – Evan Roos (DHL Stormers) – uncapped
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) 58 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Marcell Coetzee (Vodacom Bulls) 30 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers) – 7 caps, 0 pts
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) 98 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) 54 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers) 1 cap, 0 pts
1 – Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks) 13 caps, 0 pts
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) 47 caps, 55 pts (11t)
17 – Ntuthuko Mchunu (Cell C Sharks) – uncapped
18 – Vincent Koch (Wasps) 32 caps, 0 pts
19 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped
20 – Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse) – 3 caps, 0 pts
21 – Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – uncapped)
22 – Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks) – uncapped
23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) 17 caps, 12 pts (1T, 2C, 1P)

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