Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is sticking to his guns in support of Manie Libbok. The flyhalf is in the starting line-up against Argentina in the crucial final Castle Lager Rugby Championship match in Nelspruit on Saturday.
Eben Etzebeth will also set the record as the most capped Springbok of all time on on Saturday. The lock, who is in the starting line-up, will win his 128th cap surpassing the tally of Victor Matfield.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus lauded Etzetbeth for his impressive career milestone and says as a former Springbok himself, he can attest to what a massive achievement 128 caps will be.
‘The Springboks need only a point to guarantee the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title’
“We are all very proud of him and want to make this a special and memorable occasion for him,” Erasmus said.
“If we can win the title and finish the competition off with a victory it would be a massive occasion for the team and Eben as an individual, and we’ll give everything to make this a special day for him.”
The Springboks need only a point from the match to guarantee their first Castle Lager Rugby Championship title since the abbreviated version in 2019 and their first full tournament title since 2009, while they will also clinch the title if Argentina win the match without a bonus point based on competition points.
The only permutation that would see Argentina snatch the title from the Boks is if Los Pumas win with a bonus point and deny the hosts a point, which would see them claim the title based on the fact that they would have had two wins over South Africa.
Springbok team to face Argentina in Nelspruit:
15 – Aphelele Fassi
14 – Cheslin Kolbe
13 – Jesse Kriel
12 – Damian de Allende
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse
10 – Manie Libbok
9 – Jaden Hendrikse
8 – Jasper Wiese
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain)
5 – Ruan Nortje
4 – Eben Etzebeth
3 – Frans Malherbe
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 – Handre Pollard
23 – Lukhanyo Am
