South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus named the identical match-day 23 for the second Take a look at towards Eire in Durban on Saturday, making it probably the most skilled Springbok choice chosen within the 133-year historical past of the workforce.
Erasmus made no modifications to his beginning XV from the aspect who claimed a 27-20 win over Eire within the first take a look at in Pretoria, and has stored religion with the identical bench too.
The beginning lineup have 990 take a look at caps between them, edging forward of the aspect for the 2023 Rugby World Cup remaining towards New Zealand in Paris in October final 12 months, which had 987.
“We do not actually have a look at such issues after we choose the workforce, however this reveals how blessed we’re with the depth within the squad and the standard of the gamers we have now,” Erasmus stated.
“Whereas it might be a powerful statistic, it’s going to certainly not assure us a victory. We all know we should go on the market and play good rugby for the complete 80 minutes to get the specified outcome.”
Handre Pollard retained his place at flyhalf regardless of a poor kicking sport within the first take a look at, and Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel develop into the all-time most used Springbok centre-pairing once they play collectively for the thirtieth time.
Flanker Siya Kolisi will captain the workforce and lock Eben Etzebeth strikes nearer to the Springbok document for many caps, held by former second-rower Victor Matfield with 127. Etzebeth will earn is 122nd in Durban.
“It is at all times powerful dealing with Eire,” stated Erasmus. “They’re a high quality workforce, they’re ranked second on the planet, and as we noticed final week, they by no means cease preventing, so we all know the magnitude of the problem that awaits us this weekend.
“We have now little question they will come out even stronger this week.”
Erasmus has once more gone with a 6-2 cut up between forwards and backs on the bench, with the one three gamers who weren’t a part of their final World Cup win among the many replacements – prop Gerhard Steenekamp, lock Salmaan Moerat and utility again Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Group:
15-Willie le Roux, 14-Cheslin Kolbe, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10-Handre Pollard, 9-Faf de Klerk, 8-Kwagga Smith, 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6-Siya Kolisi (captain), 5-Franco Mostert, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Frans Malherbe, 2-Bongi Mbonambi, 1-Ox Nche
Replacements: 16-Malcolm Marx, 17-Gerhard Steenekamp, 18-Vincent Koch, 19-Salmaan Moerat, 20-RG Snyman, 21-Marco van Staden, 22-Grant Williams, 23-Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
