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Predicting Nienaber's Boks selection for Wales tour decider

(Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Now that the ‘master plan’ – in giving all 42 players game time – backfired spectacularly, Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber is going to revert to his ‘A-team’ for the decisive third Test against Wales.

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As Nienaber said in his post-match reaction – after the 12-13 loss in Bloemfontein this past weekend – not only did the players ‘learn a lot’, but Nienaber now knows that many of those United Rugby Championship ‘fan favourites’ may not be ready for Test rugby just yet.

Now, going into the series decider, he will shelve the ‘experimental’ teams that featured in the first two Tests and go all out for a series win.

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“The plan, go to Cape Town, seal the series” – South Africa rugby back themselves for the final test

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      “The plan, go to Cape Town, seal the series” – South Africa rugby back themselves for the final test

      What would that ‘A-team’ look like?
      You don’t have to look much past the World Cup Final of 2019 to find the answer.

      Apart from No.8 Duane Vermeulen, having undergone a minor knee procedure, and retired prop Tendai Mtawarira, the entire team that demolished England in Japan is part of the 42-man squad that was named for the Wales series.

      The bench will also have a few missing names – Rudolph Snyman (still recovering from his most recent knee surgery), Francois Louw (retired) and Frans Steyn (hamstring injury) are not part of the current squad.

      Most of the players from the 2019 Final select themselves.

      There are a few who the fans would question and perhaps suggest they are past their sell-by date.

      However, the ‘answers’ Nienaber got this past weekend will again see him lean heavily on the team that won the World Cup and also beat the British and Irish Lions last year.

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      Maybe there are those ill-informed and emotional fans asking for a change at fullback.

      However, Nienaber acknowledged the role Willie le Roux played in getting the Boks back into the game in the first Test – his attacking expertise and running the show, along with his vision at the back.

      The rest of the backline is a given.

      Even Handré Pollard should get the nod, despite his shocker this past weekend.

      The alternatives at No.10 are Elton Jantjies (who was even worse as the starting flyhalf in the first Test) and utility back Damian Willemse.

      The replacement for Vermeulen at No.8 is blatantly obvious – one of the stand-out players of the first Test, Jasper Wiese.

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      Pieter-Steph du Toit will also be better for having had a full 80-minute run, despite the rustiness of his performance.

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      Captain Siyamthanda Kolisi is another who disappointed, in his case in the first Test, but he will be there on Saturday.

      That brings us to the bench.

      For Snyman, the options to add energy and become a member of the bomb squad are Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Nortje and Marvin Orie. It is a close call between Moerat and Nortje.

      Albertus Smith, who started in several Tests last year and has not let the Boks down yet, will cover the loose forward positions off the bench.

      Nienaber has publicly stated that Damian Willemse is being groomed to replace Frans Steyn as the utility back in the squad.

      Jan de Koning‘s proposed Bok team for decider: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché.
      Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Albertus Smith, 22 Herschel Jantjies , 23 Damian Willemse.

      This article was first published in Rugby365

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      2 Comments
      S
      Silk 1000 days ago

      Agree with this team.
      Kwagga Smith enables a 6-2 split because he can play in the backline if need be. Due to his 7's experience

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      JW 2 hours ago
      'I feel for the players': Jamie Joseph's reflection on falling short again

      Some great leadership quality from Big Jim, he facilitated for large parts then put the responsibility on himself at the end drive the team forward in the last desperate minutes. He also filled in for Withy extremely well, adding real strength to the maul.


      The Force have been playing very well this year indeed, and their stars did make a couple of key players, the main factor though is definitely what I reported in the previous article “

      Gotta say I’m really enjoying the Highlanders desperation in the last 10 minutes of games, maybe it’s just because theyre having to throw the kitchen sink at it again. Another massive effort to hold the opposition out just like in the Blues game. I’m sure the coach’s will be wanting a little more composure though as the play seems to far more hap hazard (really just the type of footy I like watching) than the picture they bring at the beggining of games.

      Again though they don’t have the refs to thank for anything, being down a man twenty more minutes than they should have been. Most importantly they were without one of they best attackers (not counting Tangitau’s early change) for the final push, with Nareki’s bin.

      Again, I can see where this team is trying to go, I hope they can get their this year as they certainly have the game to be a top four team if they click. They are munch of misfits when you look at it objectively though, they probably have the worst cohesion score of any SRP team. A few more wins, maybe a come from behind upset may be the best theey can hope to acheive this year.

      “. Like Jim I thought the defence stood up strongly for large parts, but they may just have some structural issues, where it’s just not paying off. They had Lawaqa on the wing all day, allowed the Force to make a dozen linebreaks, why? Both there attack and defence look a bit too fancy for me, why? Common Joseph, the youngest team with the least cohesion/most new guys, it look overly complicated.


      I hope it clicks. Manson in particular looked to be trying far too hard when he came on, what’s been said in his ear? Stick to you lane son and don’t make any mistakes, don’t lose the game for your team. Should be a comfortable win next week against Drua if they keep there heads up and come back stronger. Lasaqa might be best to come off the bench, would keep Jim at 12 but I’d like Tele’a to come back to the side, though TUJ hasn’t been bad and style might suit Drua more. Hopefully Renton or someone with some size is at 8 or 6, Lasaqa appears to be more an 8 actually, similar to Sititi and I wouldn’t mind if he was groomed behind him and Sotutu. Lennox I thought could make a good halfback but isn’t ready, I’d hope Arscott, Fakatava, or Pledger could return to the side. Other than Drua theyve got Cheifs twice, though the home game is the last of the round/season so potentially a gimme if the Chiefs repeat previous years tactics. The Crusaders and Moana at home are also very doable. Those four wins could see them crash into the top 6 still.

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