Reinach replaces Faf de Klerk for series decider

THE 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa has so far been one for the history books, and fans are on edge ahead of the series decider scheduled for 6pm on Saturday at Cape Town Stadium.

Both teams had to jump a number of hurdles to make the tour possible owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, and did not get as much game time or preparation as they wanted to.

ALSO READ: The M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 to put hybrid power to the ultimate test

The touring party looked good going into the first test, just suffering one defeat to the South Africa A team after beating the Sharks twice, the Lions and Stormers teams.

There was a lot of banter going into the first test, as well as tactics and mind games on social media, but on the day both teams rocked up and delivered.

Warren Gatland’s men picked up a controversial 22-17 win to take an early 1-0 lead.
But the Boks did what they do best when their backs are against the wall, and that is bounce back and produce, which led to a dominant 27-9 win to level the series at 1-1.

There have been many issues going on off the field, but both teams have promised and assured fans that, come Saturday, it will be business as usual.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber and Saru Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus have named a strong 23-man squad which they believe will get the job done come Saturday.

There are two significant changes in their starting XV, with Franco Mostert moving into the number seven jumper, replacing injured 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Cobus Reinach finally gets a start after not being in both matches, replacing Faf de Klerk.

On the bench, the experienced Morne Steyn comes in, replacing Elton Jantjies.

Gatland has also made some changes with his side.

The decider is going to be a humdinger of a game, and Springbok fans will hope the bounce of the ball favours them.


Teams:
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Damian Willemse

British & Irish Lions
15 Liam Williams (Wales), 14 Josh Adams (Wales), 13 Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), 12 Bundee Aki (Ireland), 11 Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), 10 Dan Biggar (Wales), 9 Ali Price (Scotland), 8 Jack Conan (Ireland), 7 Tom Curry (England), 6 Courtney Lawes (England), 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain, Wales), 4 Maro Itoje (England), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 2 Ken Owens (Wales), 1 Wyn Jones (Wales)
Substitutes: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), 17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, England), 18 Kyle Sinckler (England – subject to outcome of disciplinary hearing), 19 Adam Beard (Wales), 20 Sam Simmonds (England), 21 Conor Murray (Ireland), 22 Finn Russell (Scotland), 23 Elliot Daly (England)