Why Willie le Roux has been given Boks’ No 15 jersey for France Test

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said on Tuesday he had named Willie le Roux at fullback for Saturday’s Test with France in Marseille to deal with the hosts’ “unique” kicking game.

Le Roux, 33, is one of five changes from last weekend’s loss to Ireland as winger Makazole Mapimpi drops to the world champions’ bench for the game in Marseille.

Les Bleus are on a record unbeaten run of 11 Tests against all opposition and last played the Springboks in 2018. 

Willie le Roux at 15

“The back-three we’ve selected, we think it’s the best combination to suit that,” Nienaber told reporters on Tuesday.

“It’s a very unique kicking game.

“For me, from a coaching perspective, it’s exciting to see that,” he added from their base up the Mediterranean coast in Toulon.

ALSO READ: Boks hopeful of getting better rewards in scrums, mauls against France

Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, lock Franco Mostert in for the injured Lood de Jager, hooker Bongi Mbonambi and loose-head prop Ox Nche are the other new faces for the game at the Stade Velodrome.

De Jager has a shoulder injury while Jaden Hendrikse, who started last weekend’s defeat in Dublin instead of De Klerk, misses out on the matchday squad.

Nienaber has kept faith with Damian Willemse at flyhalf despite the 24-year-old missing a simple shot at goal against the Irish and then handing the kicking duties over to Cheslin Kolbe.

Willemse had been behind Handre Pollard and Elton Jantjies in the pecking order before the tour but both are missing.

Different type of pressure

Pollard is injured and Jantjies is dealing with personal issues.

“I don’t want to call guys our third choice, even though he’s playing now only his fourth Test at 10, we all know the quality of the player,” Nienaber said.

“It’s different to go into a Test match with a Springbok on your chest and you have to kick in front of 85,000 people and you know it’s for your country.

“It’s a different type of pressure. 

“The only way players get better in that situation is to play in that situation,” he added.

Uncapped flyhalf Manie Libbok, who was the United Rugby Championship’s leading scorer last season, is named on the bench alongside Montpellier’s Cobus Reinach.

“Manie has showed his big match temperament in the United Rugby Championship and he has been training well since joining the team, so if he gets a run, it will be a great occasion to make his Test debut,” Nienaber said.

“A guy like Cobus will also bring a different dimension to our attack, and it is a bonus that he knows the conditions in France and has also played with some of their players,” he added.