Nche, Dweba and Vermeulen back in starting team for Boks’ test against Wallabies in Adelaide
Barely three weeks after the debacle at Ellis Park, when the unfit Duane Vermeulen, out of depth Ox Nche and inept Joseph Dweba had to be taken off the field after only 30 minutes of playing time to try to save the test against the All Blacks, these three players were again selected in the Springbok starting team to take on the Wallabies in Adelaide, while Elton Jantjies, the struggler from the first test against Wales earlier this year also gets another chance.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has handed Warrick Gelant a start on the right wing and recalled scrumhalf Faf de Klerk in the only two changes to his starting team for their Rugby Championship tour match against Australia in Adelaide on Saturday.
Gelant takes over from Jesse Kriel on the wing, while De Klerk has completed his return to play protocol after missing the second Test against New Zealand due to concussion and slots in for Jaden Hendrikse.
Nienaber also made three changes to the replacements bench, which features a split of five forwards and three backs, where Hendrikse takes over from Herschel Jantjies, while Elton Jantjies will provide flyhalf cover and Frans Steyn additional cover at the back. Willie le Roux and Jasper Wiese are not in the match-23 this weekend.
“This is a very important clash for us to set the tone for our Rugby Championship tour and we feel that continuity in selection is important to build momentum in our campaign,” said Nienaber.
He remarked that they also feel it is important to give the likes of Ox (Nche), Joseph (Dweba) and Duane (Vermeulen) another opportunity to further build combinations and give them valuable game time as the team build toward the Rugby World Cup next year.
Springbok team to face Australia in Adelaide:
15 – Damian Willemse (Stormers) – 20 caps
14 – Warrick Gelant (Racing 92) – 10 caps
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Sharks) – 30 caps
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 62 caps
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks) – 29 caps
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 64 caps
9 – Faf de Klerk (Yokohama Canon Eagles) – 39 caps
8 – Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 62 caps
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 62 caps
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Sharks) – 67 caps
5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 60 caps
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Sharks) – 102 caps
3 – Frans Malherbe (Stormers) – 50 caps
2 – Joseph Dweba (Stormers) – 3 caps
1 – Ox Nche (Sharks) – 11 caps
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 51 caps
17 – Steven Kitshoff (Stormers) – 63 caps
18 – Vincent Koch (Wasps) 36 caps
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 55 caps
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 23 caps
21 – Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks) – 6 caps
22 – Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) – 45 caps
23 – Frans Steyn (Cheetahs) – 74 caps
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