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Lions Tour 2nd Test: Will the Boks bounce back?
It will be do or die for the men in green and gold as defeat will result in a series loss.
It’s no secret that the 2019 World Cup champions, the Springboks, have their backs against the wall, against a team that is ready to carry out destruction at all costs tomorrow (Saturday) in Cape Town. Still without Duane Vermeulen in the eighth man position, South Africa’s coach Jacques Nienabar has opted to start with Jasper Wiese in his loose trio this time around, with Kwagga Smith being relegated to the bench.
On the other hand prop Steven Kitshoff will earn his 50th Test cap after prop Ox Nche was ruled out with a neck injury, while Bongi Mbonambi’s hamstring strain has recovered sufficiently for him to start the match. Nienaber has opted for a six-two split on the bench after changing tactics in the first test, which sees Nyakane and Vincent Koch provide cover at prop, while Marco van Staden takes over from Rynhardt Elstadt as loose forward cover, along with Smith. Herschel Jantjies and Damian Willemse will provide support in the backline.
Damian de Allende, retains his midfield partnership with Lukhanyo Am and will be one step closer to earning his half century of caps, as he runs onto the field in his 49th Test, with Lood de Jager (replacement lock) potentially earning his 47th cap if he takes the field.
It will be do or die for the men in green and gold as defeat will result in a series loss. The Springboks will look to keep the same momentum that they had in the first half of the first test, and hopefully not gas out like it seemed they did in the second half.
They will also look to neutralise the breakdown threat posed by Lions lock Maro Itoje whose hard work put an end to a last gasp attack by the Springboks in the dying minutes of the first test that saw them narrowly go down 22-17. Discipline and clinical handling will be a very big factor as well in the second test for the Boks, after they gave away four penalties in 26 mins, the first two were only four minutes apart, while the second two were six minutes apart, the last one coming in the 78th minute.
Springboks:
15 Willie le Roux
14 Cheslin Kolbe
13 Lukhanyo Am
12 Damian de Allende
11 Makazole Mapimpi
10 Handré Pollard (Vice-Captain)
9 Faf de Klerk
8 Jasper Wiese
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit 6
6 Siya Kolisi (Captain)
5 Franco Mostert
4 Eben Etzebeth
3 Frans Malherbe
2 Bongi Mbonambi
1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements:
16 Malcolm Marx
17 Trevor Nyakane
18 Vincent Koch
19 Lood de Jager
20 Marco van Staden
21 Kwagga Smith
22 Herschel Jantjies
23 Damian Willemse
B & I Lions:
15 Stuart Hogg
14 Anthony Watson
13 Chris Harris
12 Robbie Henshaw
11 Duhan van der Merwe
10 Dan Biggar
9 Conor Murray
8 Jack Conan
7 Tom Curry
6 Courtney Lawes
5. Alun Wyn Jones (c)
4 Maro Itoje
3 Tadhg Furlong
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
1 Mako Vunipola
Replacements:
16 Ken Owens
17 Rory Sutherland
18 Kyle Sinckler
19 Tadhg Beirne
20 Taulupe Faletau
21 Ali Price
22 Owen Farrell
23 Elliot Daly
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