How the Springboks could line up against New Zealand

July 29, 2022
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Ultimate Rugby

The Rugby Championship kicks off next weekend with old rivals South Africa and New Zealand getting the tournament underway in Nelspruit.

The Springboks head into the fixture off the back of a 2-1 Series victory over Wales in July, while a wounded All Blacks' side arrives in the Republic after their first home series defeat in the professional era going down 2-1 to Ireland.

Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber used the second test against Wales to ring the changes, making 14 in total to his starting XV from test one, before reverting to essentially the same side that won the first test.

Nienaber welcomed back veterans Frans Steyn and Duane Vermeulen when naming his squad to battle the All Blacks, with the pair missing the test series against Wales through injury.

Vermeulen had surgery on his knee, while Steyn suffered a hamstring injury, and while both players are in the squad, it is not clear whether they will be fully fit for the tournament's opening game.

Meanwhile, Marcell Coetzee and Aphelele Fassi have been released back to the Bulls and Sharks, respectively.

The Springboks have one significant injury setback, with Cheslin Kolbe missing both tests against New Zealand after breaking his jaw against Wales.

So how will this impact the team to face the All Blacks?

Starting in the backs, Kurt-Lee Arendse has been tipped to fill the void left by Koble after making a promising test debut against Wales in test 2. When Kolbe and Sbu Nkosi were missing from the Bok squad last year, Jesse Kriel filled in on the right wing and may well do so again. Stormers' outside back Warrick Gelant is another option to fill the role, having done so during the 2019 Rugby World Cup and has been in fine form this year.

Damian Willemse starred throughout the three-test series against Wales and is expected to retain the starting fullback role, with Willie Le Roux providing cover on the bench. Steyn's return could see a shuffle in the reserves, whether it's a move away from the 6-2 split or he is included along with Le Roux in a 5-3 split.

Makazole Mapimpi is bound to start on the left wing, with Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am in the centres.

Handre Pollard was the better of the two Springbok flyhalves during the series against Wales and is a near-certain starter, with Jaden Hendrikse a possible option at scrumhalf after beating Faf de Klerk to the role for the deciding test match.

In the pack, it is unlikely that Duane Vermeulen will be ready in time for the competition's opening game, based on what Nienaber said during the week.

"Duane is still in the return to play stage of his rehabilitation cycle, and he hasn't had a training session with us this week."

The Springboks have been relentless that if a player can't train on Monday, he doesn't play on Saturday. If he does train on Monday, it won't be entirely surprising if Vermeulen is thrown right back into the thick, but if he isn't quite ready to start, Jasper Wiese is the likeliest starter in the no.8 jumper.

Siya Kolisi will captain the side from the no.6 jersey with Pieter-Steph du Toit, another near-certain starter, on the blindside of the scrum.

Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager will partner up in the second row, with Franco Mostert covering the pair on the bench.

The next big call for Nienaber is which front-row trio he will start. Malcolm Marx is set to bring up half a century of Springbok appearances and could be handed his first start since 2019 to celebrate the occasion. It's not uncommon for the Springboks to do this, having done so for Franco Mostert, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane and others more recently.

Marx could lineup with Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe with Trevor Nyakane, Bongi Mbonambi, and Vincent Koch on the bench.

How the Springboks could lineup:

15. Damian Willemse

14. Jesse Kriel/Kurt-Lee Arendse

13. Lukhanyo Am

12. Damian de Allende

11. Makazole Mapimpi

10. Handre Pollard

9. Jaden Hendrikse

8. Jasper Wiese

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit

6. Siya Kolisi (c)