The Springboks laid down the gauntlet for World number one side Ireland by once again going for the much-talked about “nuclear squad” option off the bench with seven forwards and just one back.
The same tactic that was used against the All Blacks in the Twickenham pre-World Cup friendly by default after Willie le Roux had withdrawn from the squad hours before kickoff and caused so much pearl-clutching around the world, has now been implemented on purpose for the first time, and in the biggest match of the World Cup thus far.
Coach Jacques Nienaber and SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has kept the rest of the tournament nations talking with their unique, out-of-the-box thinking and this selection - at least the make-up of the bench - is sure to have the rest of the rugby world talking again.
NUKE SQUAD
The Boks upped the ante by bringing on all seven forwards at once, and while it carries some risk if there are injuries, they obviously feel confident enough with how it worked to try it against the number one side in the world.
There is no doubt that the success against the All Blacks has underlined the fact both Springbok packs believe they don’t have to stand back for pretty much any team in world rugby and Ireland’s much-vaunted pack and attack will face the same scrutiny up front.
Ireland’s game is very much built around quick ruck ball and continuity and the Boks - with this selection - feel they can disrupt them up front and feel the risk is mitigated by their own play and the rewards that it brings.
WILLIE AND DUANE SIT OUT
While the starting line-up is pretty much what the Boks were expected to name - the move to go one up from the bomb squad to the “nuclear squad” has meant there is no place for stalwarts such as Willie le Roux and Duane Vermeulen in the match day 23, which is a surprise.
Instead Damian Willemse starts at 15 as expected and is the in-form fullback while Jasper Wiese gets the nod ahead of Vermeulen in the loose trio.
Willemse is aided by the two scrum-cap wingers Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, while Manie Libbok partners with Faf de Klerk at halfback to run the backline.
As the Boks said on Monday, Handre Pollard wasn’t considered for the match because he had just arrived in camp and wasn’t up to the required match fitness yet.
Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende form the midfield, an expected choice as the Boks look to their rock-solid defence to defeat a very impressive Irish outfit who have scored no less than 20 tries in their opening two games in the tournament.
The Springboks have gone for a 7-1 split for their clash against Ireland 💪#StrongerTogether 🇿🇦 | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/mZgURzQ34J
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 19, 2023
EBEN BACK TO BULK UP PACK
Up front it really has the feel of a settled, awesome unit - with Eben Etzebeth recovering from injury to take his place in the engine room while the Wiese heads the loose-trio combo with Pieter-Steph du Toit and captain Siya Kolisi in their normal spots.
Franco Mostert gets another run at five lock and Bongi Mbonambi moves in at starting hooker between Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff in an expected front row selection.
The spicy part, however, comes on the bench where both back-up hookers - Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden feature.
Van Staden has been named as a back-up flank, but the Boks have said he is their third choice hooker after Malcolm Marx had been ruled out with injury.
Fourie is named as back-up hooker with Trevor Nyakane and Ox Nche on the front row bench while Munster’s lock duo of Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman will relish their chance to play against some very familiar faces and a number of provincial team-mates this weekend.
Kwagga Smith is the seventh forward and will again fulfill his role as the hybrid player, covering the backline if necessary.
It has been argued quite successfully that Smith, with his sevens background, easily slots into the backline and has become a hybrid option for the Boks in any case. His speed and workrate out wide is exactly one of the reasons the Boks feel they can use him as cover.
LONELY BACK
Cobus Reinach - hat-trick hero from the romp against Romania, is the only backline player on the bench but when it is remembered that Reinach possesses enough speed to play in the back three, that Faf de Klerk can cover 10 as well and that Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse have both played at fullback, there are a number of players who could slot in when needed.
The only concern is that there may not be enough cover if a midfielder goes down, with Damian Willemse covering that eventuality if it happens.
Either way the bench, rather than the starting line-up is bound to bring up a lot of talking points for the Boks and will certainly be the focus of attention in the lead-up to the game.
Springbok team to face Ireland in Paris:
15 – Damian Willemse
14 – Kurt-Lee Arendse
13 – Jesse Kriel
12 – Damian de Allende
11 – Cheslin Kolbe
10 – Manie Libbok
9 – Faf de Klerk
8 – Jasper Wiese
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain)
5 – Franco Mostert
4 – Eben Etzebeth
3 – Frans Malherbe
2 – Bongi Mbonambi
1 – Steven Kitshoff
Replacements:
16 – Deon Fourie
17 – Ox Nche
18 – Trevor Nyakane
19 – Jean Kleyn
20 – RG Snyman
21 – Marco van Staden
22 – Kwagga Smith
23 – Cobus Reinach