Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a seasoned squad featuring 20 Rugby World Cup-winners for their opening Castle Lager Incoming Series Test against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria this Saturday. The squad includes the entire starting 15 and five players on the replacements’ bench, setting the stage for an exciting clash between the top two ranked teams in the world.
Three players in the match-day 23 did not participate in the recent Rugby World Cup triumph in France: Gerhard Steenekamp (prop), Salmaan Moerat (lock), and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (utility back). These players are now included in a selection featuring a six-two bench split favoring the forwards.
Twelve of the starting XV for Saturday’s match (six forwards and six backs) were part of the 12-11 RWC final victory over New Zealand. The other three (Willie le Roux, Kwagga Smith, and Ox Nche) came off the bench in that final.
The return of previously unavailable players has resulted in eight changes to the team that defeated Wales 41-13 in London 10 days ago. Erasmus welcomed back captain Siya Kolisi, Le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handré Pollard, Marco van Staden, RG Snyman, and Steenekamp.
“This is the team we believe will give us the edge we need against Ireland, who are ranked second in the world,” said Erasmus. “We are fortunate to have a deep squad with many Rugby World Cup-winners who understand what it takes to perform at the highest level.”
Erasmus acknowledged the team’s experience but emphasized that this is a new chapter: “While having many World Cup-winners is a mental boost, Ireland are a quality team. This year brings new systems, so while past experience helps, we are focused on the present challenge.”
Erasmus expressed excitement about the contributions of Steenekamp, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Moerat: “Gerhard impressed in the front row against Argentina last year, and Sacha seamlessly integrated and performed well against Wales. Both provide additional options in the backline, with Sacha covering flyhalf and center, and Grant Williams covering scrumhalf and wing.”
“Salmaan, though relatively new, has shown leadership as a former Junior Springbok captain and with the DHL Stormers. This match will test their skills, but they are all quality players in whom we have full faith.”
Erasmus anticipates a physical battle from Ireland in front of a sold-out Loftus Versfeld crowd: “Ireland have had the upper hand in recent years and will look to continue that. We have a good idea of what to expect, and while they have new players, so do we, adding to the excitement. It’s going to be an intense 80-minute battle.”
Springbok team to face Ireland at Loftus Versfeld:
Starting XV:
- 15: Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 93 caps, 75 points (15 tries)
- 14: Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 31 caps, 91 points (14 tries, 3 conversions, 5 penalties)
- 13: Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 67 caps, 80 points (16 tries)
- 12: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 78 caps, 55 points (11 tries)
- 11: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 15 caps, 65 points (13 tries)
- 10: Handré Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 69 caps, 698 points (7 tries, 96 conversions, 152 penalties, 5 drop goals)
- 9: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 56 caps, 50 points (5 tries, 5 conversions, 5 penalties)
- 8: Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 41 caps, 35 points (7 tries)
- 7: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 78 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
- 6: Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92) – 83 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
- 5: Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 74 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
- 4: Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 120 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
- 3: Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 70 caps, 5 points (1 try)
- 2: Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 69 caps, 70 points (14 tries)
- 1: Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 28 caps, 0 points
Replacements:
- 16: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 65 caps, 85 points (17 tries)
- 17: Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap, 0 points
- 18: Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 50 caps, 5 points (1 try)
- 19: Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers) – 4 caps, 0 points
- 20: RG Snyman (Leinster) – 34 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
- 21: Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 18 caps, 0 points
- 22: Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 9 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
- 23: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 1 cap, 7 points (2 conversions, 1 penalty)
Stats and Facts:
- Springbok record against Ireland: Played 28, Won 18, Lost 9, Drawn 1. Points for: 530; Points against: 412. Tries scored: 72; Tries conceded: 38. Highest score: 38; Biggest win: 38 points (38-0). Average score: 19-15. Win %: 64.2%.
- Miscellaneous:
- Only two players in the forward pack – Ox Nche and Kwagga Smith – have fewer than 69 Test caps.
- Only one player in the backline has fewer than 30 Test caps, namely Kurt-Lee Arendse.
- Only three players in the team were not members of the RWC-winning squad (Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Salmaan Moerat, Gerhard Steenekamp).
- Willie le Roux needs only six Test caps after Saturday’s match to join the select club of Springbok centurions.
- The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 966, the second most experienced team ever selected by South Africa after the 987-capped side for the RWC final last year.
- There are 403 caps in the backline, with 563 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 182 caps.
- The average caps per player in the backline is 57, the forwards 70, while the players on the bench average 22.
