The Springboks will field an unchanged 23 for the first time since the last Rugby World Cup for their opening match of the 2019 version in Yokohama on Saturday.
Photo Copyright Steve Haag Sport - Hollywoodbets
Rassie Erasmus, director of rugby, on Wednesday named the same starting XV and eight replacements that defeated Japan, 41-7, in Kumagaya two weeks ago for the eagerly awaited clash against New Zealand.
Number eight Duane Vermeulen will be appearing in his 50th Test as one of 22 players who will, in fact, be appearing in their fourth match together this season.
The combination also fought to a 16-16 draw with the same opposition in Wellington before beating Argentina, 46-13, in Salta on their way to the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. The one exception is fit-again captain Siya Kolisi, who replaced Kwagga Smith to lead the side out against Japan.
The last time South Africa named an unchanged 23 was 51 matches ago – against New Zealand in the 2015 Rugby World Cup semi-final. The combination had beaten Wales 23-19 in the quarter-final, only to lose at Twickenham by two points a week later.
“We’ve found some consistency and some momentum in a number of ways this season,” said Erasmus, “and one of them is in selection.
“We have 31 players in the squad, any of whom I would be happy to select – as well as standby players back home – but this is a line-up that has worked well as a starting combination and one with real momentum to come from the bench.
“They have emerged together over the past 18 months as our game has developed and matured. We’re continuing to develop and new players are always pushing a claim but we’ve prepared well and we’re looking forward to what will be another extremely close match.”
Vermeulen, who made his debut in 2012, will win his 50th cap in a starting XV with three other half-centurions (Willie le Roux, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Eben Etzebeth), while there are a further three on the bench (Tendai Mtawarira, Francois Louw and Frans Steyn).
Only three of the starting XV have played fewer than 25 tests (Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi) while only replacement scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies was not capped before this season.
“We have got good experience and leaders through the team – including four players who have captained the team at one time or another and three others who have captained their franchises – as well as some talented, relative newcomers for a good balance I believe,” said Erasmus.
This is the fifth meeting between the teams at the Rugby World Cup. The Springboks won the 1995 final and 1999 bronze medal match while New Zealand took the 2003 quarter-final and 2015 semi-final.
Apart from New Zealand’s comfortable 29-9 win in Melbourne in 2003, the margin of victory in the other three matches was by four points or fewer. Similarly, the last four matches in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship between these teams has been decided by two points or fewer.
“Our last three matches have ended in stalemate, one win each and a draw, for an aggregate score of 82-82,” said Erasmus.
“You couldn’t say there is a favourite. I think we have a healthy respect for each other’s capabilities but it will come down to a small moment to decide a big game in the end, I suppose.
“Our job is to focus on executing our plan and our skills to the best of our ability and hope that that is enough to overcome a New Zealand team that will be doing exactly the same.”
Kick-off is at 1145 SA time.
The Springbok team to play New Zealand in Yokohama on Saturday:
15. Willie le Roux (Wasps, England), 56 caps - 60 points (12 tries)
14. Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), 10 - 25 (5t)
13. Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), 9 - 5 (1t)
12. Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), 40 - 20 (4t)
11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), 8 - 40 (8t)
10. Handré Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), 42 - 388 (6t, 65c, 73p, 3d)
9. Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), 25 - 15 (3t)
8. Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls), 49 - 15 (3t)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 50 - 20 (4t)
6. Siya Kolisi (captain, DHL Stormers), 43 - 25 (5t)
5. Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), 32 - 5 (1t)
4. Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), 79 - 15 (3t)
3. Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), 32 - 0
2. Malcolm Marx (Emirates Lions), 27 - 20 (4t)
1. Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), 40 - 5 (1t)
Replacements:
16. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 30 - 20 (4t)
17. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 111 - 10 (2t)
18. Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), 41 - 5 (1t)
19. RG Snyman (Vodacom Bulls), 16 - 0
20. Francois Louw (Bath, England), 69 - 45 (9t)
21. Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), 4 - 20 (4t)
22. Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France), 61 - 136 (10t, 7c, 21p, 3d)
23. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 45 - 60 (12t)
from Hollywoodbets Sports Blog https://ift.tt/2M1H6qD
best mesothelioma law firms, mesothelioma attorneys, mesothelioma
lawyer, mesothelioma lawsuits, mesothelioma lawyers, mesothelioma
lawsuit, mesothelioma attorney, mesothelioma settlement, mesothelioma
lawsuit settlements, mesothelioma settlements, mesothelioma law firm,
lawyer mesothelioma, get a online mesothelioma law firm today,
mesothelioma claims, mesothelioma claim, malignant mesothelioma,
mesothelioma law, mesothelioma law firm california, mesothelioma
compensation, mesothelioma law firms, asbestos settlement, asbestos
claim, mesothelioma, asbestos lawsuit, asbestos lung cancer,
mesothelioma law suit, asbestos claims720, asbestos attorney,
mesothelioma lung cancer, mesothelioma causes, asbestos lawyer390,
mesothelioma cancer, asbestos lawsuits, asbestos lawyers, causes of
mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, mesothelioma law suits, what is
mesothelioma, law offices, mesothelioma symptoms
Terimakasih anda telah membaca artikel tentang Springboks Unchanged for Rugby World Cup Kick Off. Jika ingin menduplikasi artikel ini diharapkan anda untuk mencantumkan link https://viralsport.blogspot.com/2019/09/springboks-unchanged-for-rugby-world.html. Terimakasih atas perhatiannya.