Bold Boks pick all four scrumhalves in match day squad

The Springboks continued their bold defence of their Rugby World Cup title by springing a surprise in selecting all four scrumhalves in their match day 23 for their second Pool B match against Romania on Sunday.

After clearly dominating the talking points coming into the tournament with a novel seven-one bench against New Zealand in the warm-up and again raising eyebrows with the use of the “traffic lights”  in the win over Scotland, the Boks have now moved to give all the members of their squad a game in a much-changed squad from the one that won the first game in Marseille.

This was always likely to be the case - especially as Romania lost by 80 points to the Boks' nearest pool rivals, world number one side Ireland - and the Boks will be looking to put up a statement performance against them.

Check it out 👉 Grant Williams scored 🔟 tries last season 😎 The second-most of any scrum half 🔥#BKTURC #URC | #RugbyWorldCup #RSA | @SharksRugby pic.twitter.com/9jJX9o3y2u

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) September 13, 2023

While there were questions about the initial squad selection when four scrumhalves were named in the squad of 33, this selection indicates that there was always a plan with the nines and underlines the versatility of the squad.

It is clear that coach Jacques Nienaber and co have been looking at new ways of using the versatility and Sunday presents them with the obvious opportunity to do so.

FAF AT POLES

Cobus Reinach will start the game at nine, while Jaden Hendrikse is the official bench halfback to cover the position. But in a move that wasn’t entirely novel to those who have been following the Boks for a while now, Grant Williams’ superb speed will be unleashed on the wing while the fourth scrumhalf, Faf de Klerk, will get some game time as the back-up kicker and reserve 10 for the side.

De Klerk has been tipped to take over the kicking duties for Manie Libbok and replaced him at the tee when the flyhalf missed a few against Scotland. A full run in the first channel will be good to give him some game time to settle in there if needed.

The Boks have long spoken about De Klerk as back-up in an emergency and while Romania wouldn’t enjoy being called minnows, they provide the perfect chance for the Boks to give him some game time in the position. 

Williams showed with a superb burst of speed that almost resulted in a try on Sunday against Scotland that he can cause major problems for defence and was unlucky to be ankle tapped by Finn Russell as he was hitting his stride.

BONGI CAPTAIN

While the scrumhalves will take the focus, there are a number of other notable inclusions that make the Bok side an exciting combination that, if they hit their straps, could put up a massive score in Bordeaux this weekend.

Perhaps the seriousness of the clash is shown with the tight five that the Boks have chosen for the clash, with Bongi Mbonambi captaining the team again as he did in Argentina alongside Vincent Koch and Ox Nche.

Marvin Orie and Jean Kleyn both start in the second row as the Boks look to use their squad while the twin jacklers of Marco van Staden and Kwagga Smith, put into the loose trio alongside Duane Vermeulen make the loose combination an enticing one to watch, especially on opposition ball. 

Damian Willemse will partner Hendrikse in a throwback to the November tour last year where they played together against Ireland while Canan Moodie returns to the midfield alongside Andre Esterhuizen as the same midfield combination that downed the All Blacks before the World Cup is revived.

Willie le Roux will marshal the back three with Makazole Mapimpi joining Williams with a shot at impressing the coaches ahead of the bigger games in the tournament.

5-3 SPLIT

The bench has an unusual - or rather traditional - five-three split - given the Boks' preference to normally use the bomb squad, but it is more to fit in the scrumhalf inclusions than anything else and doesn’t lose on explosiveness.

Veteran Deon Fourie gets his eighth cap at the ripe age of 36 as cover for hooker with Steven Kitshoff and Trevor Nyakane alongside him. RG Snyman resumes his impact role with Jasper Wiese, who started against Scotland, looking to make an impression off the bench.

Jesse Kriel provides outside back cover on the bench as player 23.