Rugby
Springboks make 12 changes for England Test─── MORGAN PIEK 14:27 Thu, 14 Nov 2024
“The turnaround between the Scotland and England Tests is short, so we had to be smart in our selection to enable us to field a fresh squad with only six days between two tough Test matches.”
The Springboks made 12 changes to their team that will face England in London on Saturday in their second Test of the End-of-Year tour.
Only Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, and Bongi Mbonambi retained their starting jersey from the 32-15 win against Scotland in Edinburgh.
In the backline, Manie Libbok has replaced Handré Pollard at flyhalf, while Grant Williams will start at scrumhalf.
Aphelele Fassie, Cheslin Kolbe, and Kurt-Lee Arendse will start in the back three, while Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel will patrol the midfield.
Upfront, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Siya Kolisi will form the back-row, with the latter taking over the captaincy from Etzebeth.
Etzebeth and RG Snyman will play in the second row. Wilco Louw, Mbonambi, and Nche will be the starting front row.
The Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said due to the six-day turnaround between the Scotland and England Tests they planned in advance and hence the wholesale changes.
Kurt-Lee Arendse - Morgan Piek
“The turnaround between the Scotland and England Tests is short, so we had to be smart in our selection to enable us to field a fresh squad with only six days between two tough Test matches,” said Erasmus.
“It obviously has a knock-on in effect in the sense that we’ve made 12 changes to the starting lineup, but we have been rotating our squad all season.
“Over and above that most of these players know each other really well having played together for the last few seasons, as well as in the Rugby World Cup, the Incoming Series, and the Rugby Championship, so we are pleased with the quality of the team we’ve been able to name.”
Aphelele Fassi. Photo: Morgan Piek
Saturday’s eagerly anticipated Test between England and the Springboks at Twickenham kicks off at 19:40
England – 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George (captain), 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements – 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Harry Randall, 22 George Ford, 23 Tom Roebuck
Springboks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 12 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 (captain), 5 RG Snyman, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements – 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Lukhanyo Am
