Revealed: Why Libbok was replaced after just 30 minutes!

With the Springboks and Manie Libbok enduring a difficult start to the Rugby World Cup semi-final against England on Saturday night, the No 10 was surprisingly replaced just 30 minutes into the match.

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Handre Pollard was brought into action as the replacement, and the veteran flyhalf guided the Springboks to a thrilling comeback win.

After the match, Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber explained the thinking behind this decision, and touched on what this means for the World Cup final.

“The beauty of this group is we are open and honest, and because we have the right players, the players accept it,” Nienaber said. “Sometimes things aren’t going your way. We did it with Bongi [Mbonambi] in 2018. We took him off. For that specific day, he just was not on fire but he started the next week again.

“The main thing is everything is for the team and they understand that. Players take it on the chin. It doesn’t mean he [Libbok] won’t start next week. We didn’t miss a kick at goal tonight, every single opportunity we utilised, with him and Handre. That is how it is. It is for South Africa, not for the individual, not for the ego.

“We get messages and we see every single message that gets sent to us. It is for them. The Springboks are more important than anything else.”

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Libbok emphasises it’s ‘team first’

Libbok credited his teammates for fighting back from a nine-point deficit in the second half.

“It is always a team effort,” he said. “I am just stoked for what the guys did tonight. It was something special. I am just proud of the guys for sticking in there.

“I am stoked for the guys coming off the bench and lifting the tempo of the game.”

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