Team announcement: Springboks vs Argentina - Schalk Brits to lead

The Springboks have been challenged by Rassie Erasmus to make a resounding statement about the health of South African rugby in the team’s Farewell Test against Argentina at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

Erasmus, the SA Rugby director of rugby, unleashed a new-look team to take on the Pumas on Wednesday, packed with players looking to secure a place in South Africa’s Rugby World Cup squad.

Eighteen of the team featured in the Rugby Championship-winning campaign but also included are five “newcomers” in the returning Siya Kolisi, Thomas du Toit and Wilco Louw (prop), Marco van Staden (loose forward) and potential debutant Scarra Ntubeni (hooker).

Kolisi has been named in the starting XV for a cameo role as he continues his carefully managed rehabilitation from a knee injury while the team is captained for the first time by the experienced Schalk Brits (hooker), who becomes the second oldest Springbok captain at 38 years and three months, and makes his first start in the green and gold since 2008.

The backline that helped overwhelm Australia at Ellis Park a month ago has been re-united with the exception of scrumhalf, where Cobus Reinach gets an opportunity to start; while the pack features a new front row, a mighty Bulls locking combination and a first start of the season for Marcell Coetzee alongside Kolisi and Rynhardt Elstadt.

The Springboks have lost only once in their past six Tests, gathering the momentum and consistency requested of them by Erasmus, and he has charged Saturday’s Boks to up the ante.

“No matter what has happened before this weekend, the momentum we will go to the World Cup with will depend on what happens on Saturday,” Erasmus said.

“Some of these players will know they are on the plane but for others it is make or break - and even if they don’t make the plane there will be six standby roles to be identified.

“We’ve picked a formidable pack and we saw what the backline did against Australia so I am really excited to see what they can do on Saturday to prove their own case and also show just how strong South African rugby is.”

Erasmus said Brits had temporarily taken the captaincy as Kolisi’s role was likely to be a short one.

“I’ve asked Siya to empty his tank and go as hard for as long as he can,” said Erasmus.

“I’ve told him he might even come off in the first half. He has played less than 50 minutes of Currie Cup rugby in the last 12 weeks but I needed him to have a taste of Test rugby again before we leave for Japan.”

Vice-captain Elton Jantjies will take over the leadership role in the event of Brits being replaced - opening the way for a debut by Ntubeni.

The Stormers hooker toured with the Springboks in 2013 and 2014 but has had a long wait to pull on the jersey for the first time in a Test.

Erasmus said the split between six forwards and two backs on the bench was to provide extra loose forward cover for Kolisi’s cameo return.

Frans Steyn would cover all of flyhalf, centre and fullback with Faf de Klerk the only other back replacement.

Season sensation Herschel Jantjies was slated to provide scrumhalf cover, but he was withdrawn on Tuesday following a blow to his head in training. It is not expected to affect his potential inclusion in the Rugby World Cup squad.

“This is a massive Test for us against a fired-up Argentina team that will looking to end their Test campaign on a high,” said Erasmus.

“We’ve gained momentum over the Rugby Championship - the last thing we want to do is lose it.”

Teams:

South Africa

15 Warrick Gelant, 14 S'bu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Schalk Brits (captain), 1 Thomas du Toit

Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Frans Steyn

moz

I agree mostly...

But for my money, Nkosi, Captain Quota and RG have all got their tickets already.

Mozart

Sure the hopeless players are Steyn, Esterhuizen and Jantjies - unless he shows some real life on Saturday.

The Springboks also have two real line out jumpers in the team and playing Kolisi, Elstadt and Coetzee is probably as good as can be.  Du Toit is the only top class loosie who played in the last two tests.   After buggering up totally in the AB test Vermeulen was slightly better against the Argentinians - so rest him he cannot play three games in a row, 

As to Steyn and Esterhuizen it is embodied in the Afrikaans saying -  "Dit is soos finkel en Koljander - so sleg soos een is is die ander". 

Steyn was poor as a bench center - so he is on the bench again.  My guess is that Erasmus saw what he is capable of - so he is likely to be looking for another contract with a club or franchise while the WC is being played.        

As I said, J-Raz had his WC team penciled in many months ago. We go to the WC with a wing at 12, a big back at 6 and a bench lock at 7. Can the rest of the team pickup the slack? At some point we'll have the fullback, Sushi, at 13. It's okay, who needs centres when you are kicking at every level right up to the opposition 22? 

I see you a re smiling - serious you cannot be writing crap like that,

I am sure that the three player you malign are top class performers, but what is important - what will happen at lock?   I think Mostert is on his way out too.  Physically too weak to compete as was clear in the line-outs in the last two tests,   

I think that the locks will be Etzebeth, De Jager and Snyman.         

I rmember that De Jager scored a try and made 14 tackles without missing 1 against Australia - he did not make a total f#ck-up of a tackle as Mostert did on Sanchez,   And unlike Mostert he i s strong enough to score tries a he did against Australia and not carried backwards like Mostert was,   And believe it he can jump in line-outs as well.    

I rmember that De KJager scored a try and made 14 tackles without missing 1 against Australia - he did not make a total f#ck-up of a tackle as Mostert did on Sanchez,   And unlike Mostert he ios strong enough to score tries a he did against Australia and not carried backwards like Mostert was,   And believe it he can jump in line-outs as well.    

He huffed and puffed in two runs. Gone before and after that. This man is like a truck running on fumes and one tyre. Totenbaum also gets hit in the face. His hand speed is like someone trying to shovel underwater. 

That team has a very B-team flavour. 

Thomas Dutoit should remain at loosehead. His scrummaging is not good enough at 3. If he can pick up some form, he is probably the most effective outside of the scrum.

Feel badly for Akkers. Why wasn't he brought in. Is he injured. 

Also Frans should have started. Has Rassie already made up his mind re Frans. 

Are lumps of lard Thomas Du Toit and Wilco really test props. Props need some mobility these days Gqboka should have started. 

Otherwise team much as predicted. 

Beeno

I think that Erasmus at last has reached the same conclusion as Montpellier did recently and  Plumtree years ago - Steyn is NOT a center, neither is he a flyhalf.     

Mike maybe so but to me the evidence is not fully in. He needed to start. A few minutes here and there is not enough. But maybe Rassie has enough info from training sessions etc.

I also have not seen him play overseas. So can't come to a definite conclusion.