Rassie surprises with halfback combo for Etzebeth's record breaker

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Eben Etzebeth will set the record as the most capped Springbok of all time on in Nelspruit Saturday when he runs out at lock against Argentina.

Jaden Hendrikse and Manie Libbok are paired as starting halfbacks for the first time in the title-deciding match of the Rugby Championship at the Mbombela Stadium.

The three are promoted from the bench in a match-23 that shows six personnel changes from the team that went down 28-29 against the same opposition in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus made nine changes and one positional switch to the staring from last week’s encounter.

He recalled six double World Cup winners to the starting XV in Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Frans Malherbe (prop), Pieter-Steph du Toit (flank), Cheslin Kolbe (wing), Damian de Allende (centre), and Siya Kolisi (flank) who resumes as captain after watching from the coaches’ box in Argentina.

The changes meant that Erasmus named the same starting pack that defeated New Zealand 18-12 in Cape Town and the same five forward replacements, while reverting to a five-three split in favour of the forwards on the bench.

The most capped centre pairing in Springbok history in De Allende and Jesse Kriel are reunited, with a back three of Aphelele Fassi (fullback) and wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Kolbe.

On the bench, Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf), Handre Pollard (flyhalf) and Lukhanyo Am (centre) make up a formidably experienced trio, who will provide the necessary impact in the backline.

The Springboks need only a point from the match to guarantee their first Rugby Championship title since the abbreviated version in 2019 and their first full tournament title since 2009, while they will also clinch the title if Argentina wins the match without a bonus point based on competition points.

The only permutation that would see Argentina snatch the title from the Boks is if Los Pumas win with a bonus point and deny the hosts a point, which would see them claim the title based on the fact that they would have had two wins over South Africa.

“We planned to recall the players we rested last week because it allowed us to ensure that we have a group of core players who remained in the South African time zone and who would slot back into the team with ease,” said Erasmus.

“They will not only bring fresh legs and vast experience to the team, it also allows us to select a settled team that played most of the matches in the incoming series.

“The match-23 also includes 19 Rugby World Cup winners, which will bode well for the team, while the other players selected have performed under immense pressure in the competition this season and they all deserve their places in the squad.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge against an Argentinean team that has something special brewing in their set-up and who will give everything to win their first title in the competition, and we selected this team with that in mind.”

Ox Nche, Malherbe (both props) and Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) will start in the front row, while Etzebeth will again pair up with Ruan Nortje in the engine room, with Kolisi, Du Toit, and Jasper Wiese forming a physical loose trio.

Libbok and Hendrikse will dictate play at halfback.

The five forward replacements on the bench are Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Kock (both props) and Malcolm Marx (hooker), with Elrigh Louw and Kwagga Smith adding loose forward power.

Erasmus praised Libbok for his general play in naming him in the starting lineup.

“Manie’s general play is fantastic,” Erasmus said, adding: “He brings a lot of energy and play-making abilities to the backline.

“He dictates play well, so we back Manie fully to do the job for us at flyhalf.

“It’s not just up to him to find solutions for his goal-kicking, it is something we have to do as a team, and we are working on a plan.”

Erasmus also lauded Etzebeth for his impressive career milestone.

“As a Springbok, I can attest to what a massive achievement it will be for Eben to become the most capped Springbok ever, and we are all very proud of him and want to make this a special and memorable occasion for him.

“If we can win the title and finish the competition off with a victory it would be a massive occasion for the team and Eben as an individual, and we’ll give everything to make this a special day for him.”

With the Rugby Championship title well in sight for the Boks, Erasmus said although there was only one permutation that would deny the Boks the title, their goal was to win the match and finish the competition on high note.

“We know it’s not going to be easy because Argentina really believe they have what it takes to win the title, and they showed that anything is possible by defeating New Zealand at home and registering a record-breaking victory over Australia as well, so although we are close to claiming the title, we are taking nothing for granted,” said the Bok coach.

“The Pumas are a lot like South Africans.

“They come from a country where their players have also had to overcome great challenges to be where they are today, and this is the first time in history they have a shot at winning the trophy, so they’ll come out guns blazing because they have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

“They showed the quality of rugby they can play all around last week, and they run hard, which is one of the reasons we opted for a five-three split for this game, so we are preparing for a proper final and we know it will take a massive 23-man effort for the full 80 minutes to win the trophy.”

South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Lukhanyo Am.

Date: Saturday, September 28
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 17.00 (12.00 Argentina time; 15.00 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)