Boks turn to flyhalf Frans Steyn for Argentina showdown
Damian Willemse and Handré Pollard are injured while Elton Jantjies is no longer in the squad
20 September 2022 - 17:49
byGEORGE BYRON
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Frans Steyn of South Africa. Picture: DAVID ROGERS/GETTY IMAGES
Injury-hit SA have turned to calm-headed “Mr Dependable” Frans Steyn to steer the ship home when they face Argentina in a crunch showdown in Durban on Saturday.
A succession of injuries forced Bok coach Jacques Nienaber to name the veteran two-time World Cup winner as his starting flyhalf in a must-win Rugby Championship clash at Kings Park.
Steyn steps up to replace Damian Willemse, who suffered a concussion in Saturday’s 36-20 victory against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
With Handré Pollard injured and Elton Jantjies no longer in the squad, Nienaber’s options were limited to Steyn, Faf de Klerk and Willie le Roux to fill in at No 10.
Nienaber has made only two changes to his starting team and decided to name six forwards and two backs on the replacements bench.
Apart from Steyn, Pieter-Steph du Toit returns to the starting line-up at flanker in place of Franco Mostert, who will come off the bench.
The notable changes in the replacements are the return of hooker Bongi Mbonambi, who makes a welcome return from a knee injury, and Kurt-Lee Arendse, who has completed his suspension after a dangerous tackle in a match against the All Blacks in August.
Mbonambi will be joined by strong reinforcements in Vincent Koch (prop) and Duane Vermeulen (No 8), who join Mostert and Kwagga Smith as the forwards on the bench.
De Klerk and Arendse, meanwhile, will provide cover among the backs, with De Klerk earmarked as the backup scrumhalf and flyhalf cover, while Arendse will cover fullback and wing depending on how the match unfolds.
“We showed in the first half last week what we are capable of and our fighting spirit in the dying minutes was admirable,” Nienaber said. That made it easy for us to opt for continuity in selection in the starting line-up.
“Obviously the one change was injury-enforced as Willemse has been ruled out due to concussion, and we were pleased the calmness Frans Steyn brought at flyhalf when Damian left the field.
“The energy and enthusiasm Pieter-Steph has been showing at training has also been great, and we know what he is capable of in this loose trio, so I am sure he will make an impact among the loose forwards.”
Of the decision to name a split of six forwards and two backs on the bench, Nienaber said: “We know what challenges Argentina will pose and we feel this would be the best option for us for this match.
“We have a group of hungry and talented players serving in the bomb squad this week and every player in the match-day squad knows what is expected of them if we want to win the Rugby Championship.
“We viewed last week as a semifinal and this week as a final, but Argentina are a team that do not give an inch, and they never stop fighting as we saw last week.
“They defeated New Zealand away from home against the odds and they registered a convincing victory against Australia at home, so we know we are in for a massive battle.
Springbok squad: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Boks turn to flyhalf Frans Steyn for Argentina showdown
Damian Willemse and Handré Pollard are injured while Elton Jantjies is no longer in the squad
Injury-hit SA have turned to calm-headed “Mr Dependable” Frans Steyn to steer the ship home when they face Argentina in a crunch showdown in Durban on Saturday.
A succession of injuries forced Bok coach Jacques Nienaber to name the veteran two-time World Cup winner as his starting flyhalf in a must-win Rugby Championship clash at Kings Park.
Steyn steps up to replace Damian Willemse, who suffered a concussion in Saturday’s 36-20 victory against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
With Handré Pollard injured and Elton Jantjies no longer in the squad, Nienaber’s options were limited to Steyn, Faf de Klerk and Willie le Roux to fill in at No 10.
Nienaber has made only two changes to his starting team and decided to name six forwards and two backs on the replacements bench.
Apart from Steyn, Pieter-Steph du Toit returns to the starting line-up at flanker in place of Franco Mostert, who will come off the bench.
The notable changes in the replacements are the return of hooker Bongi Mbonambi, who makes a welcome return from a knee injury, and Kurt-Lee Arendse, who has completed his suspension after a dangerous tackle in a match against the All Blacks in August.
Mbonambi will be joined by strong reinforcements in Vincent Koch (prop) and Duane Vermeulen (No 8), who join Mostert and Kwagga Smith as the forwards on the bench.
De Klerk and Arendse, meanwhile, will provide cover among the backs, with De Klerk earmarked as the backup scrumhalf and flyhalf cover, while Arendse will cover fullback and wing depending on how the match unfolds.
“We showed in the first half last week what we are capable of and our fighting spirit in the dying minutes was admirable,” Nienaber said. That made it easy for us to opt for continuity in selection in the starting line-up.
“Obviously the one change was injury-enforced as Willemse has been ruled out due to concussion, and we were pleased the calmness Frans Steyn brought at flyhalf when Damian left the field.
“The energy and enthusiasm Pieter-Steph has been showing at training has also been great, and we know what he is capable of in this loose trio, so I am sure he will make an impact among the loose forwards.”
Of the decision to name a split of six forwards and two backs on the bench, Nienaber said: “We know what challenges Argentina will pose and we feel this would be the best option for us for this match.
“We have a group of hungry and talented players serving in the bomb squad this week and every player in the match-day squad knows what is expected of them if we want to win the Rugby Championship.
“We viewed last week as a semifinal and this week as a final, but Argentina are a team that do not give an inch, and they never stop fighting as we saw last week.
“They defeated New Zealand away from home against the odds and they registered a convincing victory against Australia at home, so we know we are in for a massive battle.
Springbok squad: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Duane Vermeulen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Kurt-Lee Arendse.
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