‘Start Faf and Pollard and bring in Moodie … but leave Ox on bench’

Former Springboks attack coach Swys de Bruin says the Boks’ management team will have to select a defensive backline for the team’s Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand on Saturday night in Paris.

Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber is set to announce the team for the final on Thursday morning and there is sure to be plenty of debate in the squad about the make-up of the 23 following last Saturday’s uninspiring performance against England in the semi-finals.

Both the Boks and All Blacks have a fourth title in sight.

To counter the attacking threat the All Blacks will bring to the match, De Bruin believes the Boks must select a defence-oriented team with backline players who have good defensive attributes.

Backline picks

The former Lions coach has backed the halfback pairing of Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard and winger Canan Moodie to start.

“Against New Zealand, you have to select your best defensive backline. For me, Faf is a general at organising the defence, and while I’m a big Cobus Reinach fan, Faf is the best defensive scrumhalf around,” said De Bruin.

“If we want to make the defensive route our strength, I will definitely make Pollard our 10 and bring Manie (Libbok) off the bench and then stick with the two centres, Damian (de Allende) and Jesse (Kriel) … their defensive abilities are unreal.

“To combat the aerial play and New Zealand’s kicking, I might be keen on looking at a Moodie on the wing. It’s a great opportunity to bring him in for the high balls because Aaron Smith will put in plenty of box kicks. And, then I’d stick with Cheslin (Kolbe).

“At fullback I’ll go with Damian (Willemse) and bring Willie (le Roux) off the bench because we are going for the strongest defensive unit.”

Ox Nche

The talking point among the forwards is whether to start with the impressive Ox Nche or to keep him as an impact player. De Bruin said the destructive loosehead prop, who helped turn the semi-final against England in the Boks’ favour, should continue with his role as a member of the “Bomb Squad”.

“When he came on, he won us the French game and the England game,” said the SuperSport pundit.

“It’s important to have a loosehead that kills a tighthead in the last 20 minutes, it’s the most valuable thing you can have. That’s how you win strangle games.

“Other countries don’t have two strong tightheads, they might have one, so as soon as the starting tighthead is tired that’s when you bring on Ox. That’s our secret weapon, you hit their second-best tighthead with a fresh Ox.”