Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is likely to keep his starting XV unchanged for their Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday (21:10 SA time kick-off).
The Boks annihilated the Pumas 73-13 at FNB Stadium last week and it is expected that Meyer will opt for continuity this week.
Sport24
There are two injury worries for the Boks though. Tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis is being managed with a calf injury, and centre JJ Engelbrecht (groin) was unable to take part in Monday’s training session at the San Isidro Rugby Club in Buenos Aires.
But both are expected to recover in time for Saturday’s match. While it may be inviting to rest the duo – especially the overplayed Du Plessis – the coach is unlikely to do so as it is his mandate to win Test matches, and to select the best team available.
The Boks would certainly want their best available side, baring in mind that they drew 16-all with the Pumas there last year.
Tighthead prop Lourens Adriaanse joined the Boks on Monday after flying out as a replacement for Trevor Nyakane, who was on Sunday axed from the squad due to poor discipline.
However, Adriaanse is not likely to replace Du Plessis or Coenie Oosthuizen in the match-day 23.
Scrumhalf Piet van Zyl also joined the squad in the absence of Fourie du Preez, who is only available for the home matches in the Rugby Championship.
Jano Vermaak is, however, expected take Du Preez’s place on the bench.
The Bok team will be named on Wednesday.
Likely Springbok team:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jean de Villiers (Captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein.
Hi Groot,
Why exactly is FdPreez banned of oversees games and permitted to play in SA only ?
Would it not make more sens if his Japanese employers granted him permission to play the 3 first tests and have him early September for the championship in Japan ?
1 @ Pierre Richard:
As I understand it, it revolves around the games that Suntory Goliath wants Fourie du Preez to play in, in their Japanese league.
Apparently the Japanes Clubs are only allowed to field 2 overseas based players in a game in their league and I suppose some big games are coming up now and in the next few weeks.
But, obviously I’m not privvy to all the in’s and outs, so your guess is as good as mine.
Die gewese Bok-kaptein Johan Claassen het onlangs juis die evolusie van lakwerk verduidelik aan die hand van ene Jaap Bokslagter, wat jare terug in die ou Wes-Transvaal vir die Spoorwegspan agtsteman gespeel het.
Jaap was berug vir sy laagvatte, wat met of sonder die teenwoordigheid van ’n bal geskied het. Een slagoffer was Jackie Morkel, wat vir die Weermag losskakel gespeel het.
Volgens Claassen het Morkel die bal vreeslik vinnig geskop “weens sy skrikkerigheid vir têkkels. En Jaap het dit geweet.” Jaap het Morkel in ’n voorwedstryd vir die Mielieboere vroeg in sy visier gekry en hom eindelik katswink geduik lank nadat hy nie meer die bal gehad het nie.
Toe die blaser, Dawie Viljee, hom berispe, laat val die Bokslagter: “Kyk, Meneer, as ek my mind opgemaak het om ’n man te tackle, dan tackle ek hom.”
Users Online
Total 167 users including 0 member, 167 guests, 0 bot online
Most users ever online were 3735, on 31 August 2022 @ 6:23 pm