Springboks players in training. Photo: Supplied/SA Rugby website
BREAKING: Springboks team named! A debutant and first start included!
Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has named his first match day 23 of the World Cup year, ahead of their Rugby Championships opener against Australia.
Springboks players in training. Photo: Supplied/SA Rugby website
Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has named his first match day 23 of the World Cup year, ahead of their Rugby Championships opener against Australia.
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The Springboks are set to take on great rivals Australia at a sold out Loftus Versfeld Stadium over the weekend, as shortened Rugby Championship tournament begins.
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It had long been rumoured that the Springboks would adopted a strategy where they split their squad in two, with one half taking on Australia at home, with the other half traveling to New Zealand for the second game. Evidence of the squad announced by Nienaber suggests they’re most certainly going to go in that direction. Looking at the starting side to face the Wallabies, just four of the 2023 are absolutely nailed on starters for a Rugby World Cup opener.
Springbok debut for Kleyn
Frans Malherbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lukhanyo Am and Willie Le Roux. Others who face serious competition but may fancy their chances are the likes of veteran Duane Vermeulen and Ox Nche. Nienaber will also be handing out a Springbok debut to former Ireland international Jean Kleyn. Ironically, around this time in the previous World Cup year Kleyn was getting used to his new Irish teammates and national anthem. But after not playing for his adopted country since that 2019 showpiece, World Rugby rules have allowed him to switch his allegiance back to the country of his birth, South Africa.
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Kleyn’s involvement in the Springbok fold comes at just the right time for both himself and the country, as he is now a more established player, and a United Rugby Championship winner. For Nienaber, he offers an alternative to Eben Etzebeth with a scarcity of no. 4 locks of a similar calibre in the country. He also eases the concerns in that position caused by the absence of injured Stormers lock Salmaan Moerat.
First start for Libbok
Speaking of the Stormers, the much anticipated selection of Manie Libbok for a full Springbok debut was also made by Nienaber. The speedster will start at flyhalf where Libbok will hope to build on the promising cameos he has offered from his three substitute appearances in the green and gold. Vermeulen has been given the honour of leading out the side as captain at his former stomping ground, in the absence of the recovering Siya Kolisi. Here is the full team below:
