Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has rewarded form rather than reputation when he named the team to face Ireland in the first of three Tests at Newlands on Saturday.
The Lions duo of scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and centre Lionel Mapoe were rewarded with starts after superb Super Rugby seasons. For De Klerk it’s a Test debut and for Mapoe a first start after a meagre two minutes against the All Blacks last year at Ellis Park.
But other in-form Lions players – South Africa’s Super Rugby pacesetters – flyhalf Elton Jantjies‚ No 8 Warren Whiteley and tighthead prop Julian Redelinghuys have also been acknowledged with places on the bench.
Coetzee‚ naming the first Test side of his tenure‚ also gave Stormers flank Siya Kolisi a start after earning 13 caps off the subs bench in three years as a Springbok. Stormers hooker Bongi Mbonambi will also earn a Test cap if he comes off the bench.
“I am rewarding form and Lionel (Mapoe) is one player who has been outstanding in Super Rugby‚” Coetzee said. “But this is not a 15-man team; it’s a 23-man squad.
“Lionel is grateful for the chance to start and he has been showing consistently good form and played well for the Lions.
“Faf is a bundle of energy and I have to rein him in a bit. He’s explosive and Duane Vermeulen will help take care of him there and he has the experience of Pat Lambie outside him.
“It wasn’t an easy team selection but that makes me proud; proud of the fact that there is competitiveness in the squad; proud of the fact that the players have brought huge intensity and a massive work rate to training.
“They made it easier for me. We are 27 players operating as one team and that was a big part of our planning for the weekend.
“Players will be tested and will have to exercise their skills without less time than they have in Super Rugby. There is also a plan that the players have had to buy into.
“I’m happy with Siya’s performances in Super Rugby and I’m looking forward to seeing him carry like he did in Super Rugby. If he has to play towards the ball he can do that too. He has to play more than one role‚ and come with triple and double actions.”
It’s a callow and experimental backline with only flyhalf Pat Lambie and right wing JP Pietersen boasting more than 50 Test caps. Lambie was also confirmed as vice-captain for the match.
Willie le Roux continues at fullback with Lwazi Mvovo on the left wing while the midfield pair of Damian de Allende and Mapoe have never played together. Similarly De Klerk and Lambie have only ever eyed each other from opposite sides of the field.
But Coetzee has opted for an experienced forward pack with six survivors that lost the World Cup semi-final to the All Blacks returning for this battle.
No 8 Duane Vermeulen‚ flank Francois Louw‚ locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager and props Tendai Mtawarira and Frans Malherbe all started at Twickenham eight months ago.
Hooker Adriaan Strauss‚ who was on the bench that fateful October day‚ starts and will lead his country for the first time while lock Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jantjies came through late fitness tests to take their places on the bench.
Vermeulen and Louw only joined the squad on Sunday due to club commitments in France and England‚ missing the entire first five days of training in Stellenbosch last week.
“I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the way Duane and Flo (Louw) have settled in‚” Coetzee said. “But they are experienced and because of the contagious energy in the camp‚ players are getting up to speed quickly.
“They have been there and done it and showed their leadership qualities this week.
“Physical dominance is priority in Tests and they bring that‚ but a guy like Warren Whiteley is smart off the bench. He will also bring composure in the latter part of the game.”
Springbok team:
15-Willie le Roux‚ 14-JP Pietersen‚ 13-Lionel Mapoe‚ 12-Damian de Allende‚ 11-Lwazi Mvovo‚ 10-Pat Lambie‚ 9-Faf de Klerk‚ 8-Duane Vermeulen‚ 7-Siya Kolisi‚ 6-Francois Louw‚ 5-Lood de Jager‚ 4-Eben Etzebeth‚ 3-Frans Malherbe‚ 2-Adriaan Strauss (capt)‚ 1-Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: 16-Bongi Mbonambi‚ 17-Trevor Nyakane‚ 18-Julian Redelinghuys‚ 19-Pieter-Steph du Toit‚ 20-Warren Whiteley‚ 21-Rudy Paige‚ 22-Elton Jantjies‚ 23-Jesse Kriel.
Ireland team:
15- Jared Payne‚ 14-Andrew Trimble‚ 13-Robbie Henshaw‚ 12-Luke Marshall‚ 11-Keith Earls‚ 10-Paddy Jackson‚ 9-Conor Murray‚ 8-Jamie Heaslip‚ 7-Jordi Murphy‚ 6-CJ Stander‚ 5-Devon Toner‚ 4-Iain Henderson‚ 3-Mike Ross‚ 2-Rory Best‚ 1-Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin‚ 17-Finlay Bealham.18-Tadgh Furlong‚ 19-Ultan Dillane‚ 20-Rhys Ruddock‚ 21-Kieran Marmion‚ 22-Ian Madigan‚ 23-Craig Gilroy.
Siya Kolisi gets first start after 13 caps off the subs bench in 3 years as a Springbok
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has rewarded form rather than reputation when he named the team to face Ireland in the first of three Tests at Newlands on Saturday.
The Lions duo of scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and centre Lionel Mapoe were rewarded with starts after superb Super Rugby seasons. For De Klerk it’s a Test debut and for Mapoe a first start after a meagre two minutes against the All Blacks last year at Ellis Park.
But other in-form Lions players – South Africa’s Super Rugby pacesetters – flyhalf Elton Jantjies‚ No 8 Warren Whiteley and tighthead prop Julian Redelinghuys have also been acknowledged with places on the bench.
Coetzee‚ naming the first Test side of his tenure‚ also gave Stormers flank Siya Kolisi a start after earning 13 caps off the subs bench in three years as a Springbok. Stormers hooker Bongi Mbonambi will also earn a Test cap if he comes off the bench.
“I am rewarding form and Lionel (Mapoe) is one player who has been outstanding in Super Rugby‚” Coetzee said. “But this is not a 15-man team; it’s a 23-man squad.
“Lionel is grateful for the chance to start and he has been showing consistently good form and played well for the Lions.
“Faf is a bundle of energy and I have to rein him in a bit. He’s explosive and Duane Vermeulen will help take care of him there and he has the experience of Pat Lambie outside him.
“It wasn’t an easy team selection but that makes me proud; proud of the fact that there is competitiveness in the squad; proud of the fact that the players have brought huge intensity and a massive work rate to training.
“They made it easier for me. We are 27 players operating as one team and that was a big part of our planning for the weekend.
“Players will be tested and will have to exercise their skills without less time than they have in Super Rugby. There is also a plan that the players have had to buy into.
“I’m happy with Siya’s performances in Super Rugby and I’m looking forward to seeing him carry like he did in Super Rugby. If he has to play towards the ball he can do that too. He has to play more than one role‚ and come with triple and double actions.”
It’s a callow and experimental backline with only flyhalf Pat Lambie and right wing JP Pietersen boasting more than 50 Test caps. Lambie was also confirmed as vice-captain for the match.
Willie le Roux continues at fullback with Lwazi Mvovo on the left wing while the midfield pair of Damian de Allende and Mapoe have never played together. Similarly De Klerk and Lambie have only ever eyed each other from opposite sides of the field.
But Coetzee has opted for an experienced forward pack with six survivors that lost the World Cup semi-final to the All Blacks returning for this battle.
No 8 Duane Vermeulen‚ flank Francois Louw‚ locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager and props Tendai Mtawarira and Frans Malherbe all started at Twickenham eight months ago.
Hooker Adriaan Strauss‚ who was on the bench that fateful October day‚ starts and will lead his country for the first time while lock Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jantjies came through late fitness tests to take their places on the bench.
Vermeulen and Louw only joined the squad on Sunday due to club commitments in France and England‚ missing the entire first five days of training in Stellenbosch last week.
“I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the way Duane and Flo (Louw) have settled in‚” Coetzee said. “But they are experienced and because of the contagious energy in the camp‚ players are getting up to speed quickly.
“They have been there and done it and showed their leadership qualities this week.
“Physical dominance is priority in Tests and they bring that‚ but a guy like Warren Whiteley is smart off the bench. He will also bring composure in the latter part of the game.”
Springbok team:
15-Willie le Roux‚ 14-JP Pietersen‚ 13-Lionel Mapoe‚ 12-Damian de Allende‚ 11-Lwazi Mvovo‚ 10-Pat Lambie‚ 9-Faf de Klerk‚ 8-Duane Vermeulen‚ 7-Siya Kolisi‚ 6-Francois Louw‚ 5-Lood de Jager‚ 4-Eben Etzebeth‚ 3-Frans Malherbe‚ 2-Adriaan Strauss (capt)‚ 1-Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: 16-Bongi Mbonambi‚ 17-Trevor Nyakane‚ 18-Julian Redelinghuys‚ 19-Pieter-Steph du Toit‚ 20-Warren Whiteley‚ 21-Rudy Paige‚ 22-Elton Jantjies‚ 23-Jesse Kriel.
Ireland team:
15- Jared Payne‚ 14-Andrew Trimble‚ 13-Robbie Henshaw‚ 12-Luke Marshall‚ 11-Keith Earls‚ 10-Paddy Jackson‚ 9-Conor Murray‚ 8-Jamie Heaslip‚ 7-Jordi Murphy‚ 6-CJ Stander‚ 5-Devon Toner‚ 4-Iain Henderson‚ 3-Mike Ross‚ 2-Rory Best‚ 1-Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin‚ 17-Finlay Bealham.18-Tadgh Furlong‚ 19-Ultan Dillane‚ 20-Rhys Ruddock‚ 21-Kieran Marmion‚ 22-Ian Madigan‚ 23-Craig Gilroy.
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