Given the available players, their form and the results of today's match - I would select this team.
Firstly, the Boks should have scored points during their 25 minutes of domination in the 1st half.
A playmaker like Willie Le Roux was missed. Pollard is not organising backline attacks, so without Leroux at 2nd receiver, the Bok attack was error-prone and disjointed.
Boks made many good runs, but it was more disjointed individualism that rehearsed team play.
1. Ox Nche
Seemed to scrum well as the Boks looked better on his side of the scrum. He had a very good run with a clean break- and was showing up in the tight loose.
2. Marx - Has to start, Boks seemed to improve instantly when Dweeb was in the blood bin
3. Malherbe
The Australian scrum did better than expected on his side of the scrum , but with a 2nd chance he should be better.
4. Eztebeth - Along with Lood, the locks made more clean breaks than the backline. Individual brilliance but sometimes ran away from support because his breaks were so good.
5. Lood: Good game. Made a few loose passes on good attacking movements, when it might have been better to go to the ground.
6. Kolisi- Got better as the Boks started running the ball more.
7. Kwagga - The form Bok loose forward in 2022.
He has to be the first player selected to start in the back row.
Scored two tries today, and that was as a substitute.
High work rate, both at the breakdown and in the loose. He is an all-round loose forward that can adapt his game based on what is needed and when.
8. Vermeulen - An improvement today over his disaster outing against the All Blacks. Still, he needs a major improvement to start against Argentina. He may be well past his best, and he does not have much time to prove otherwise.
10. Elton Jantjies - He makes mistakes (even on his good days), but he is capable of getting his backline running. Pollard needs a rest and is stale.
Most effective in running conditions, so he suits Australia.
12. Willemse - Delande did look better on attack outside Jantjies than with Dullard on his inside, but it would be good to see Jantjies and Willemse combine on attack
13. AM -
Another good game. Not sure if he finished the game on the wing. Being outside Jantjies and Willemse should see him getting more involved.
14. Gelant - He did not get much opportunity today. I would rather see Gelant tried as an outside centre as a backup to AM. (Jessie Kriel is not a test-level option). He has a good pass and playing-making ability, so it would be mostly if he was up to the defensive requirements.
15. Willie Leroux - If he was on the pitch today in the 1sth half, he probably would have created a try during the Bok period of domination.
11. Mapimpi
Replacements:
16. Dweeb- An improvement from last week, especially after he returned from the blood bin.
17. Steven Kitshoff
18. Vincent Koch - Set up a good try today.
19. Franco Mostert/Wiese
20. Steph Dutoit - He is not in form, and the back row got outplayed on the ground against Australia. His work rate is much lower than what it usually is.
Having loose forwards that do not compete on the ground is less useful when your team is not dominating the breakdowns and gain line.
21. Faff - Is his bad form permanent? Does he have the mental focus and discipline?
22. Pollard - Looks lost on attack, and there is no confidence putting the ball down the backline. Looks tired. Some bench duty will do him well.
23. Delande - He might start if Jantjies starts. It would be interesting to see how he would go outside Jantjies from the start of the game. Although Willie Leroux has to be on the pitch at XV, which would push Willemse to 12.
