The guaranteed Springbok selections
OPINION: Elton Jantjies’ untimely departure from the Springbok team has left coach Jacques Nienaber with limited options.
South Africa faces Argentina in a crucial Rugby Championship Test in Buenos Aires this coming Saturday.
With Handre Pollard already ruled out for the rest of the year with a knee injury, Damian Willemse is now the only ‘specialist’ flyhalf in the team – even though he made his first start in the No.10 Bok jersey in Sydney just over a week ago.
Jantjies missed the Sydney outing with a hand injury and has now flown home to deal with the fall-out of his extra-marital tryst with the team’s dietician, Zeenat Simjee.
He is unlikely to feature again this year.
With no replacement called up, the only other player who is a recognised flyhalf is veteran Frans Steyn.
However, he is a crucial bench selection because of his utility role.
Other players who could ‘help out’ at flyhalf in a crisis are fullback Willie le Roux and scrumhalf Francois de Klerk – who was also a handy goal-kicker when he featured for Sale Sharks in the no.10 jersey in the premiership.
With Willemse set to be at flyhalf, Le Roux will most likely again start in the No.15 jersey – with Warrick Gelant the other option at No.15.
It is almost certain the same backline that featured in Sydney will start in BA.
The most likely changes could be among the forwards.
(Continue below …)
Pieter-Steph du Toit, who also missed the Sydney Test because of a knee niggle, could come into the selection frame.
However, given Franco Mostert’s impressive performance in Sydney, Du Toit may only get a bench role.
Elrigh Louw is also due a run, so Du Toit may be given extra ‘recovery’ time.
The need for a specialist lock on the bench could see Salmaan Moerat in the frame in place of one of the loose forwards – utility Albertus Smith and No.8 Duane Vermeulen.
At hooker, the out-of-form Joseph Dweba is an option as a back-up on the bench, although Deon Fourie’s selection as a hooker-cum-utility will allow for a specialist lock on the bench.
Bok coach Jacques Nienaber is due to name his team on Tuesday.
South Africa – possible: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Retshegofaditswe Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Salmaan Moerat, 21 Jacobus Reinach, 22 Francois Steyn, 23 Warrick Gelant.
@king365ed
@rugby365com
