Big Joe gets Bok start after Mbonambi withdraws

Mbonambi was originally named in the starting lineup after playing off the bench in the win over the All Blacks at Mbombela, rotating with Malcolm Marx, who started his 50th Test last weekend.

However, the Springboks confirmed on Wednesday that Mbonambi will be ruled out of Saturday’s rematch with New Zealand after hurting his knee during a training session on Tuesday afternoon.

Taking Mbonambi’s place in the starting lineup will be twice-capped Joseph Dweba, who recently completed a move from French club Bordeaux to the Stormers.

Dweba, who started both Tests he has played to date – against Wales in Bloemfontein in July and Argentina in Nelson Mandela Bay last year – will pack down alongside his former Cheetahs teammate Ox Nche. The two also played together for the Junior Springboks and SA Schools.

The experienced Frans Malherbe, who earns his 50th Test cap this weekend, will pack down on the other side of the front row.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber says Mbonambi will go for scans to his knee, but with an important three-match tour to Australia and Argentina ahead, as well as the year-end tour, the coaches opted to withdraw him as a precaution.

“We have an important Rugby Championship tour coming up and a year-end tour later this year, so we don’t want to take any risks with Bongi,” says Nienaber.

“Joseph has been working hard at training and he’s been waiting patiently for his chance, and we feel that it doesn’t get better than facing the All Blacks, who are one of the best teams in the world.

“We have a big squad and a large part of the logic around that decision was to ensure that all the players are familiar with our structures and systems, and to expose them to Test rugby to build our squad depth with an eye on next year’s Rugby World Cup. So, this will be a fantastic opportunity for Joseph.”

Nienaber says Dweba’s strong combination with Nche also plays a role in his leap straight into the starting lineup: “Joseph and Ox come a long way together. They’ve played close to 100 first-class games together, and they know each other well on and off the field having played together since school level at HTS Louis Botha.

“They progressed through the SA Rugby junior rugby ranks together before forming a strong combination at the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and PRO14 competitions, and we believe their familiarity will give us the best chance in this match,” adds Nienaber.

Springboks – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Jesse Kriel, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Willie le Roux.