CONFIRMED: When Springboks will reveal team for quarter-final

There have undoubtedly been some selection headaches to resolve as the Springboks’ coaches contemplate their team for a World Cup quarter-final date against France on Sunday night. Kick off is at 9pm.

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It has become customary under Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber for the Boks to announce their team as early as possible in the week – usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday – depending on whether the game is on a Saturday or Sunday respectively.

Ahead of the quarter-final, though, it’s been confirmed that the Springboks’ matchday squad will only be named on Friday (at 9am).

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Although the team will have undoubtedly been revealed internally to the Bok camp, it will only be announced to the public on Friday as per the official World Rugby schedule.

It has prompted some speculation over whether the South Africans are planning to unleash a surprise or two against France.

“In every game that you play, you always try to be creative in terms of what the opposition gives you,” said assistant coach Davids, when asked about pushing the team announcement to Friday.

“At this level, teams analyse each other to the bone, so you have to find ways to outsmart the opposition, while staying to your core – the things that are important to you.

“That will stay part of our approach – to find that edge to doing something differently. It won’t be something new, in terms of our approach. That’s how we look at our strategy going into this game.”

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WILL POLLARD REMAIN AT 10 FOR SPRINGBOKS?

Possible Springboks line up – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Duane Vermeulen, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.

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WHY LUKHANYO AM MAY HAVE TO WAIT

The centre suffered a knee injury in the team’s World Cup warm-up match against Argentina in Buenos Aires early in August, but when Bok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick spoke to Sunday newspaper Rapport, the rhetoric suggested they might not rush Am back.

“I don’t think it would be fair to Lukhanyo to just arrive here and play straight away,” Stick was quoted by Rapport.

“I’m not saying we won’t consider him (for the quarter-finals), but this is the first week he’s been training with the team again. If things go well with us in the tournament, there is no doubt in my mind that Lukhanyo will be considered for a possible semi-final.”

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