Nienaber springs midfield surprise for clash against All Blacks
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has revealed his team for their final World Cup warm-up match against the All Blacks in London on Friday.
Nienaber made eight personnel changes – and one positional switch – to his starting lineup for the clash at Twickenham, as he continued to fine tune preparations for the opening World Cup clash against Scotland in just under three weeks.
Nienaber retained five of the pack that defeated Wales (52-16) on Saturday in a front row of Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe (props) and hooker Malcolm Marx, as well as loose forwards Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Flyhalf Manie Libbok and Canan Moodie also start again – although the latter switches from wing to outside centre – with Faf de Klerk resuming at scrumhalf in a new halfback pair, while there are new combinations elsewhere as Nienaber continued to carefully manage game time among the squad.
There is a new lock pairing of Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert, while veteran No.8 Duane Vermeulen starts in the back row (after coming off the bench in Cardiff).
Makazole Mapimpi and Kurt-Lee Arendse are named on the left and right wings respectively, with Damian Willemse starting at fullback. Moodie makes a first Test start at outside centre in a midfield combination with Andre Esterhuizen.
The Bok coach again opted for a split of six forwards and two backs on the bench, where locks Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman and prop Trevor Nyakane will provide an impact alongside Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Ox Nche (prop), and Marco van Staden (flank). Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and fullback Willie le Roux, meanwhile, will provide backline cover.
The All Blacks will provide a different challenge to Wales, and we believe this group of players is the right mix for this match,"" said Nienaber.
New Zealand play a high-tempo game, and they turn on the intensity from the starting whistle as they showed in Auckland, so it’s vital that we start well this week.
"We took the lessons from that match, and we’ve built good momentum since, so this will be a fantastic test before we enter our World Cup campaign."
Commenting on the changes to the team, Nienaber said: Our objective since the beginning of the season was to strike a balance between performance and managing player load with only six Test matches to get ready for the World Cup, and we are pleased with the way we have developed in that regard.
"In the last five matches we’ve given everyone, with the exception of the injured players, valuable game time, which is vital going into the World Cup, and we are satisfied with the way we have been building as a team."
Nienaber expected a massive battle against their arch-rivals in front of a crowd of more than 80 000 at Twickenham and said: "The rivalry between the Springboks and All Blacks is one of the most intense in world rugby, so it’s a great way for us to wrap up our warm-up matches before heading to France for the World Cup.
"This match may be on neutral ground, but we expect it to be as epic as every other Test between the teams. They are a quality team with several playmakers and physical forwards, and they’ll give everything on Friday.
"We know what to expect and what we need to do to work our way into a position to get the desired result, so as a team we need to be ready mentally and physically."
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Willie le Roux.
Date: Friday, August 25
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 19.30 (20.30 SA time; 18.30 GMT; 06.30 Saturday, August 26 NZ time )
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England), Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)