2023-10-26 14:23:38
The Springboks are never stingy with surprises. Two days before the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand, Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus have revealed the composition of the team whose mission will be to win the double. And it is surprising to say the least. At the hinge, exit Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok and welcome Faf de Klerk and Handré Pollard who will start the meeting. The first two mentioned are not even on the bench.
Unlike previous matches, the Springboks staff decided to strengthen their bench by placing seven forwards and only one three-quarter. Willie Le Roux is the only survivor of the back lines, he who generally plays at the back but who can also help out on the wing or at the opening if necessary. Up front, Fourie, Nche, Nyakane, Kleyn, Snyman, Smith and Wiese will have to bring power and take over the All Blacks at the end of the match. A tactic that worked perfectly on August 25 when South Africa humiliated New Zealand in a warm-up match (35-7).
For the rest, the South Africans field the same team as in the semi-final. The first Kitshoff-Mbonambi-Malherbe line is renewed, as is the third made up of Captain Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Duane Vermeulen. The three-quarters will be the same as in the semi-final, namely Kolbe, de Allende, Kriel, Arendse and Willemse. Only the hinge therefore changes. More experienced, the two men will undoubtedly have the mission of managing the tempo of the meeting. Handré Pollard will also be useful for his precision against poles.
La composition de l’Afrique du Sud : Willemse ; Arendse, Kriel, de Allende, Kolbe ; Pollard, de Klerk ; Vermeulen, du Toit, Kolisi ; Mostert, Etzebeth ; Malherbe, Mbonambi, Kitshoff.
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