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| Image via Facebook/Springbok |
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has named seven forwards and one back on his bench for Saturday's Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool B clash in Paris. This decision is similar to West Indian great Viv Richards coming out to bat in a cap against England in shorts and flip-flops, sending the same message with a powerful Bomb Squad. This is the first time an international team, three days out from a Test, has taken such an extreme position.
The Boks have a virtual free hit against Ireland to try this, as they have won their opening two matches at RWC 2023. If they lose, they should still progress to the quarterfinals with a five-point haul against Tonga in their final pool match. If they beat Ireland with 15 forwards and eight backs, they might seriously damage Irish minds and send warning shots to future opponents. However, this is not supposed to be like this, which is why it is so enjoyable.
Nienaber has loaded the bench with breakdown specialists, such as Deon Fourie, Marco van Staden, and Kwagga Smith. The team has also loaded the bench with breakdown specialists, such as Siya Kolisi, Jasper Wiese, and Steven Kitshoff over the ball. Ireland's technical department could be rethinking their plans for this game, with pace and movement might be a way to combat the Bok power and breakdown aggression.
The versatility of the backline is another key factor in the team's approach. Damian Willemse, starting at fullback, can play flyhalf and inside centre, while Wing Cheslin Kolbe can play flyhalf, as can scrumhalf Faf de Klerk. Inside centre Damien de Allende can operate at outside centre, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse also plays fullback, and reserve scrumhalf Cobus Reinach is comfortable at wing.
Reinach was exceptional against Romania, with his three tries well taken but it was his line kicking that caught the eye and probably elevated him in the halfback pecking order. The match also sees the return of Eben Etzebeth at lock after recovering from a shoulder injury, while Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman are second-row reserves on the bench.
In all, there are 13 changes from the starting side that beat Romania as the clear distinction between the "A" and "B" teams becomes clearer. Nienaber believes that Ireland is a quality team with a strong pack of forwards and talented backs, and that the team has the right balance of players to achieve what they would like to achieve in this match.
The teams have been facing each other for years, and Nienaber brushed off suggestions that his Irish links and those of SA Rugby's director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, assistant coach Felix Jones, and those of Kleyn and Snyman, both of whom currently ply their trade at Munster, gave either side a special advantage. Both teams have immense respect for one another, and the match will come down to who plays the most effective rugby on the day.
