England Prepares Bok Backline, Led by Libbok for the Upcoming Showdown
In Your Face, Mate! Manie Libbok steers a bold new-look Springbok backline for the showdown against England at Twickenham. This squad is a stark contrast to the one that started against Scotland.
Rassie Erasmus has shaken things up, making a whopping 12 changes to the team that triumphed at Murrayfield last week. Only Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, and Eben Etzebeth manage to secure a spot in the starting lineup.
The revamped backline sees Grant Williams teaming up with Libbok, creating an intriguing halfback pairing. Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel rejoin forces in midfield, while Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, and Aphelele Fassi make up the back three.
Punters, get ready! Up front, Wilco Louw gets his first Test match since 2021, with RG Snyman earning a start in the second row. Captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese complete the back row.
Rassie opted for a 7-1 split bench last time but this time, he's gone with a traditional 5-3 split. Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Elrigh Louw, and Kwagga Smith, who earned his 50th Test cap last week, serve as forward replacements. The experienced trio of Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, and Lukhanyo Am will cover the backline.
This team aligns with Erasmus' seasonal trend, as he averages 8.5 personnel changes per Test in the 11 selections he has made since the opening match against Wales in June.
Interestingly, the Boks and England are tied 3-3 in their last six meetings, with the Boks narrowly winning the most recent clash 16-15. Fifteen players who featured for the Boks in that 2021 Rugby World Cup semi-final in France will clash once again on Saturday.
Fast Facts:
- Saturday's match marks the Springboks' 100th match on British and Irish soil since the first tour in 1906.
- Eben Etzebeth will extend his Springbok record as the most-capped player to 130 caps.
- Manie Libbok needs six points to become the 30th of 944 Springboks to reach a century of points.
- South Africa will have scored 1 000 points in Tests against England if they score 12 or more points.
- The total Test caps for the Springbok starting lineup is 767.
Starting Lineup:15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Reserves:16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Lukhanyo Am.
Quintin van Jaarsveld, a renowned sports journalist, has provided this update. Stay tuned for more news and analysis!
- The Springboks are set to face England with a dramatically altered backline, led by Manie Libbok, in a stark contrast to the team that played against Scotland.
- Punter's bets should be ready, as Rassie Erasmus has made a significant 12 changes to the squad for the crucial match at Twickenham, leaving only Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, and Eben Etzebeth in the starting lineup.
- Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, and Aphelele Fassi make up the modified back three, partnering with Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel in midfield, with Grant Williams and Libbok forming an intriguing halfback pairing.
- In the forwards, Wilco Louw will make his return to the Test match since 2021, while RG Snyman starts in the second row, with Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese composing the back row.
- Differing from his previous 7-1 split bench, Rassie has chosen a traditional 5-3 split for the reserves, with Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Elrigh Louw, and Kwagga Smith serving as forward replacements, and the experienced trio of Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, and Lukhanyo Am covering the backline.
- Remarkably, both the Boks and England are tied 3-3 in their last six meetings; Saturday's match will be significant not only for its location but also for featuring fifteen players who competed in the 2021 Rugby World Cup semi-final in France.
