Three MAJOR selection headaches for the Springboks
As the Springboks head towards the World Cup quarter-finals, we take a look at three major selection decisions that will have to be made.
The Springboks are all but assured of qualifying for the World Cup quarter-finals, where they are likely to face France in the first playoff.
Ahead of this encounter, we take a look at three major selection choices they will have to make.
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WHO WILL START AT 10 FOR SPRINGBOKS?
Do they keep Handre Pollard at 10 and Manie Libbok on the bench? Or go the opposite direction, and pick Pollard on the bench as an insurance policy, while starting Libbok?
If both are in the matchday 23, it also means the Springboks then may have to stick with a 5-3 forwards-to-backs split on the bench.
“It’s a tough call we will have to make,” Rassie Erasmus acknowledged. “If we go five-three, maybe both can be in the mix. If we go six-two it’s a possibility, if we go seven-one then things might look a little different.”
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WHERE DOES LUKHANYO AM FIT IN?
On Monday it was confirmed that Lukhanyo Am, a member of the Springboks’ 2019 Rugby World Cup winning team, has been called into the 2023 squad as an injury replacement for wing Makazole Mapimpi.
Am will join the squad in Toulon this week, having returned to training on his rehabilitation from a knee injury suffered in the 24-13 victory win over Argentina in Buenos Aires on 5 August.
However, it remains to be seen whether Am is really fit enough to be considered for selection in the starting line-up, particularly considering he hasn’t played all that much Test rugby over the last 18 months.
In fairness, Jesse Kriel has also fared more than capably in the absence of Am, and it would be a massive call to now make a change at 13.
Perhaps Am will be accommodated on the bench, but again this would probably mean the Springboks have to go the five-three route.
HOW BEST TO DEPLOY DUANE VERMEULEN
Winning turnovers at the contact area is just one of Vermeulen’s strengths, and this has to be a big factor when considering a return to the starting XV for the Bok veteran, especially in the absence of Malcolm Marx.
Not only this, but Vermeulen also boasts a real presence about him, and there is little doubt that opposition teams are both respectful and wary of what he can offer on the field for the Springboks.
This past weekend Vermeulen started at blindside flank, but Pieter-Steph will surely return to the No 7 jersey for the quarter-finals.
It leaves a big call over whether to start Vermeulen at No 8 ahead of Jasper Wiese, or whether to find a spot for him on the bench. Or perhaps he could be left out all together.
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