Springboks team news

Asenathi Ntlabakanye has shed 18kg, now weighing a measly 141kg. He did it mostly by spending several weeks on coach Daan Human’s Free State farm, working with the mentor…More out the Boks thinking by the Boks.

Springbok team to face the Barbarians in Cape Town:
15 Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 11 caps, 35 points (7t)
14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 40 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 79 caps, 90 points (18t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 87 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 90 points (18t)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 52 points (14c, 8p)
9 Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – 2 caps, 0 points

8 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks) – 14 caps 10 points (2t)
7 Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks) - uncapped
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 92 caps, 60 points (12t)
5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 66 caps, 25 points (5t)
4 Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 7 caps, 0 points
3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions) – uncapped
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 76 caps, 105 points (21t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps, 0 points

Replacements
16 Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets) - uncapped
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 5 points (1t)
18 Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers) - uncapped
19 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 78 caps, 20 points (4t)
20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 51 caps, 45 points (9t)
21 Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 39 caps, 70 pts (14t)
22 Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 19 caps, 98 pts (1t, 30c, 11p)
23 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 0 points

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Jesse Kriel will captain the Springboks for the first time after Siya Kolisi was withdrawn from the Boks team to face the Barbarians due to an unspecified “niggle”. Marco van Staden comes straight into the starting lineup, leaving the bench unchanged.

The Jesse Kriel glow up from his space obliterating crab running to his RWC-winning ways has been too impressive to now not have an official cap as Bok captain :persevering_face: #Justice4Jesse

haha…one of those anomalies…He won’t be officially recognised as it’s a non-Test…but I suspect he will captain officially soon - possibly even next week if Siya’s injury is more serious than initially thought.

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I see the Bulls faithful legion is growing in the DM ranks - new intern is in the verraaier class who is born in the Cape of Storms, but appreciates the northern ways. My heart swells (which is probably why my blood is blue - I should really have that looked at)

I am THAT guy, the unapologetic Manie Libbok stan who appreciates the excitement he brings to the game and can overlook the odd missed conversion. Glad to say he brought the pain on Saturday.

And needless to say the Cheslin Kolbe fangirling was strong in this one.

Manie was excellent. He brings others into the game. Selfless and unselfish…

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And Manie now has a 100% kicking record for the season - but in an exhibition game… Good to see the fruits of his labour switching up his kicking mechanics, but he seems to be snatching at it now and not have a good follow through swing, which will limit his range.

Maybe a sneaky opportunity for Curwin Bosch and his howitzer boot to enter the chat? Or perhaps Kwagga is hiding some Frans Steyn skills?

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Springbok team to face Italy in Pretoria:

15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 39 caps, 56 points (4t, 9c, 4p, 2 dg)
14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 40 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)
13 Jesse Kriel (captain, Canon Eagles) – 79 caps, 90 points (18t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 87 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 90 points (18t)
10 Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) – 80 caps, 772 points (7t, 109c, 168p, 5dg)
9 Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – 2 caps, 0 points

8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 34 caps, 10 points (2t)
7 Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – uncapped
6 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 25 caps, 10 points (2t)
5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 66 caps, 25 points (5t)
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 131 caps, 35 points (7t)
3 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 16 caps, 0 points
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 76 caps, 105 points (21t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps, 0 points

Replacements:

16 Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 77 caps, 70 points (14t)
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 5 points (1t)
18 Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 61 caps, 0 points
19 RG Snyman (Leinster) – 40 caps, 10 points (2t)
20 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 78 caps, 20 points (4t)
21 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 51 caps, 45 points (9t)
22 Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 58 caps, 50 points (5t, 5c, 5p)
23 Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 98 caps, 75 points (15t)

Test debut for Vincent Tshituka…Damian Willemse first appearance since RWC 2023 final. 99th Test for Willie le Roux