Boks back Reinach and Libbok for France showdown

The Springboks sprung a minor surprise with their halfback pairing ahead of the crunch Rugby World Cup quarterfinal showdown against France on Sunday, naming Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok in their starting line-up.

While a lot of attention had been paid to the selection of flyhalf, where Libbok and Handre Pollard were vying for the starting role, Reinach’s inclusion is a bit of a surprise, as the Montpellier scrumhalf has traditionally played second-fiddle to the other scrumhalves in the side.

But his consistent form in the lead-up to the World Cup, his hat-trick against Tonga and his speed and exceptional passing has given him the edge, with the Bok management rewarding these aspects to give him the nod to start.

The selection of Libbok, combined with Reinach, also signals that the Boks are not moving away from their attacking approach, with Libbok’s attacking nuance one of the striking aspects of the Bok season thus far.

While many may have expected Faf de Klerk as the natural starter in the squad, he and Pollard are both on the bench as the Boks have opted for a five-three split.

Duane Vermeulen also gets the nod at number eight as the Boks opt for experience for what amounts to possibly the biggest pressure game since their Rugby World Cup victory in 2019.

All around the park there is experience, while the back three remain the strike force that the Boks have employed in 2023 with Damian Willemse cementing his place as the incumbent 15 and the scrumcap wingers Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse around him. 

In a way it is tough to think of a more balanced Springbok team - with the pack being as tough as it can be and the backline balanced in terms of physicality and strike power. 

Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel have been a rock in the midfield and there was never really a debate that the Boks would go in with any other midfield pairing.

At the end of the day Lukhanyo Am’s return to the squad, while celebrated, was also met with the reality that he has not played for a long time and it would be a risk in such a big match to bring him back without any match day form.

Among the forwards the loose trio with Vermeulen is the same as in the 2019 World Cup final, while Franco Mostert and Eben Etzebeth have played together more than most second row combinations in World Rugby.

The front row of Frans Malherbe, Steven Kitshoff and Bongi Mbonambi is - without Malcolm Marx around - probably the strongest front three in world rugby, although the scrum battle with a strong French pack is going to be one of the highlights of the showdown between the World number two and three sides.

While in many ways this could easily have been the final of the tournament, the stakes are higher knowing that one of the two sides will be out after the completion of the game.

The Bok decision to back experience has a lot to do with countering the capacity French crowd, who are notorious for becoming the 16th man on the field and the Boks know they will go into the game as underdogs.

IMPACT PLAYERS

On the bench, the move away from the bomb squad is interesting, but has more to do with finding a place for Pollard and giving the Boks different options with a De Klerk-Pollard combination able to play a very different tactical game in the second half if needed. It also gives the Boks some insurance on the goalkicking front.

But Vincent Koch’s inclusion ahead of Trevor Nyakane is also an interesting move, with the Saracens tighthead considered one of the strongest scrummagers in World Rugby and it is clear the Boks are steeling themselves for a titanic battle up front.

Deon Fourie and Ox Nche are the rest of the second front row, while the mercurial RG Snyman and Kwagga Smith, whose workrate is exceptional, make up the rest of the forwards. Willie le Roux is the outside back cover and has tons of experience to bring on in the second half.

With a balanced, experience match day 23 the Boks will know that if they are efficient and clinical, as well as disciplined, they will have enough to take another step to defend their title.

But the challenge doesn’t get any bigger than this - the host nation in their home cauldron in front of so many baying fans.

Calm heads and experience will be vital in this fight.