THE SPRINGBOKS HAVE named a 7/1 split of forwards and backs on their bench for the World Cup final against New Zealand on Saturday in Paris [KO 8pm Irish time, RTÉ/Virgin Media]
South Africa first used this bench split in their final World Cup warm-up game against the All Blacks back in August.
Boks bosses Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber returned to the 7/1 bench for their pool clash against Ireland but having lost that game, it seemed that they would steer clear of such a split again.
South Africa used a 5/3 bench for their quarter-final and semi-final wins over France and England in recent weeks but have now returned to the 7/1 for the biggest game of them all.
Willie le Roux is the only back included on the Springboks bench, with experienced halfbacks Faf de Klerk and Handré Pollard named in the starting XV after being used as replacements in recent weeks. Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok, who started the previous two knock-out games, have been dropped from the matchday 23.
The Springboks’ starting pack is unchanged, while the bench includes two Munster second rows in RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn. Inclusion for the World Cup final is a huge achievement for Kleyn, who previously played for Ireland but switched allegiance to his native South Africa this year after completing a three-year standdown period.
Hooker Bongi Mbonambi is free to start after World Rugby confirmed no charges were being brought against him following accusations of using discriminatory language.
South Africa (v New Zealand):
- 15. Damian Willemse
- 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse
- 13. Jesse Kriel
- 12. Damian de Allende
- 11. Cheslin Kolbe
- 10. Handré Pollard
- 9. Faf de Klerk
- 1. Steven Kitshoff
- 2. Bongi Mbonambi
- 3. Frans Malherbe
- 4. Eben Etzebeth
- 5. Franco Mostert
- 6. Siya Kolisi (captain)
- 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
- 8. Duane Vermeulen
Replacements:
- 16. Deon Fourie
- 17. Ox Nche
- 18. Trevor Nyakane
- 19. Jean Kleyn
- 20. RG Snyman
- 21. Kwagga Smith
- 22. Jasper Wiese
- 23. Willie le Roux
Referee: Wayne Barnes [England].
Outstanding sqaud selection that for a WC final, all the experience you need for 80 min. Kick, chase, maul, scrum, squeeze the death out of the allblacks in defense… What a powerful bench to Bring on, 7-1 split, what balls rassie…. Go bokke, this is going to be brutal !!!!!!
@Stuart: Best of luck Stuart. Very much enjoy your contributions here so I will be pleased for you if the Boks triumph.
@Stuart: yes best of luck Stuart, looking forward to the 2 Munster lads bringing back WC winner medals
Rassie never stops with mind games does he? I know Libbok was poor against England but that is extremely harsh to not even have him on the bench. Anyway, SA by 6 (Hopefully)
@Dave Moran: Harsh and possibly rash not to have any specialist 9 or 10 cover. The AB will certainly know what’s coming.
@Dave Moran: I believe their main error was not capping him earlier than they did. I don’t think he was injured last summer after a great season in URC but they didn’t cap him till that autumn. Then again, if they had and he was slightly better we might not have won the URC .
Weird how all the dubs on here have spent months saying that Kleyn is terrible and yet he’s playing in a World Cup final.
@0UWMNglt: Weird how the Ireland management didn’t cap him for 4 years even with PoC on the management team ey. All about “the dubs” who don’t pick the squad
@0UWMNglt: clown.
I know who the AB’s will be targeting! Could seriously implode for SA.
@Shane O Hanrahan: I presume you mean their 9? If so, I do think it is a gamble not to have a replacement specialist scrumhalf. But to imply that NZ would try to injure him is wrong.
@D Farrell: And to think they wouldnt is naive.
All of SA praying Faf doesn’t get injured…!
The Scrumby world cup final.
Go New Zealand…. have you @ 6/1 !!
@Lulu Daisy OBrien: Have New Zealand ever been 6-1 for a rwc???
Somewhere Matt Williams is having a meltdown…
Bold selection i think Rassie didnt have a choice given what happened at Twickenham. Only complaint is LeRoux as the utility back instead of Reinach. No cover at 9 or 10 seems risky given Kwagga Smith can cover center and Kriel can play wing etc