Three Springboks giving Jacques and Rassie a selection headache

The Springboks face New Zealand on Saturday with a much-changed team from the one which dispatched Australia 43-12 in Pretoria on Saturday. Can Manie Libbok and Kurt-Lee Arendse put up their hands for regular starting berths at 10 and 11 respectively?

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SPRINGBOKS FLEXING THEIR DEPTH

Not so long ago, pundits and observers were concerned that a few injuries would rock the World Champions and their preparations for the 2023 showpiece in France. Even with Siya Kolisi, Handrè Pollard, Ox Nche and Frans Steyn out, they’ve been able to produce a stirring display against Australia with a largely experimental and exciting new-look team.

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ARENDSE PUTS HIS FEET UP THIS WEEKEND

Hat-trick hero against the Wallabies, Kurt-Lee Arendse, produced a dazzling display on the left wing. Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe are the two first-choice Springboks wingers and will take a lot to dislodge either of them, but Arende is doing everything in his power to give coach Jacques Nienaber a tough decision to make ahead of the World Cup. Mapimpi and Kolbe, starters and try-scorers in the 2019 World Cup final, have been recalled for this weekend’s clash with the All Blacks. Arendse isn’t in the matchday squad.

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LIBBOK SHINES IN PIVOT ROLE

Manie Libbok was another standout performer for the Springboks in their thumping of Australia. He kicked a penalty, converted three of the team’s tries and looked dangerous and inventive from open play. This weekend, it’s the turn of Damian Willemse to stake a claim for the number 10 jersey usually held by the aforementioned Pollard.

Flyhalf was previously thought of as an area of weakness for the Boks, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Speaking of pivots, Cobus Reinach’s slick distribution from scrumhalf has also given Faf De Klerk some serious thinking to do. Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse are also waiting in the wings and ready to take his spot.

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Kickoff between the All Blacks and the Springboks from Auckland in New Zealand is from 09:05 on Saturday 15th July. We’ll be watching the performances of numbers 9, 10 and 11 specifically with talented squad options breathing down their necks.