South African rugby team positions Captain Kolisi at No. 8 for the opening match against Australia
Springboks Name Manie Libbok as Starting Fly-Half for Australia Clash
In the highly-anticipated match against Australia, the South African Springboks have named Manie Libbok as their starting fly-half. Libbok, who has a strong record with only one loss in 13 Tests as a starter for South Africa [2][4][5], was preferred over other candidates like Handre Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
The regular No 8, Jasper Wiese, is unavailable due to a four-match ban following a head-butting incident in a warm-up match against Italy the previous month. Additionally, other leading No 8 contenders, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom, are sidelined with serious pre-Springbok season injuries [2][4]. As a result, captain Siya Kolisi is moving from flank to start at No 8 for the first time in a Test. Marco van Staden comes into the starting line-up to fill the flank position.
Andre Esterhuizen fills in for the injured Damian de Allende at inside centre for the Springboks. Grant Williams has moved to the front of the queue for the scrum-half position. The Springboks' starting team for the match includes Siya Kolisi as captain, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, and Aphelele Fassi at fullback.
Cheslin Kolbe is recovering from a niggle and will not play in the upcoming match. Edwin van der Merwe replaces him on the right wing for the Springboks. Cobus Reinach provides cover on the bench for the scrum-half position.
The Wallabies, who have lost their last four matches against South Africa, are eager to snap their losing streak. The Springboks have lost only one of 13 Tests when Libbok started, but lost four when he came off the bench in seven internationals [1].
- The Springboks' record with Manie Libbok
- The Springboks' team selection for the Australia match
- Jasper Wiese's four-match ban
- Siya Kolisi's move to No 8
- The Springboks' bench for the Australia match
- While Manie Libbok is named as the starting fly-half for the Springboks' clash against Australia, it's worth noting that the team has lost only one of 13 Tests when he started, but lost four when he came off the bench in seven internationals.
- In the Springboks' team selection for the Australia match, besides Siya Kolisi captaining the team and moving from flank to No 8, there are changes like Andre Esterhuizen filling in for the injured Damian de Allende at inside centre, Marco van Staden starting at flank, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, and Aphelele Fassi at fullback, and Edwin van der Merwe replacing Cheslin Kolbe on the right wing due to his niggle.
