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Nienaber lays cards on table for Pumas

todayJuly 26, 2023 48

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Springbok coach, Jacques Nienaber, has made nine changes to the starting team that lost 35-20 to New Zealand in Auckland two weeks ago.

The squad is now featuring a new halfback pairing of flyhalf Manie Libbok and scrumhalf Grant Williams.

This will mark Williams’ first start for the team.

Springbok number 8, Duane Vermeulen, will captain the new-look Bok team in their final Rugby Championship match against Argentina at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, in what could be the competition decider depending on the result between New Zealand and Australia in Melbourne.

Nienaber also rotated his loose forwards with the trio of Vermeulen and flankers Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marco van Staden, who started the opening match of the competition against the Wallabies, returning to the run-on 15.

The other changes to the pack of forwards are at hooker, where Malcolm Marx takes over from Bongi Mbonambi, and lock, where Marvin Orie comes in for Lood de Jager.

As far as the backline is concerned, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse – who scored a hat-trick against Australia – will start in place of Makazole Mapimpi, while experienced centre Jesse Kriel will make his first appearance of the season in the midfield alongside vice-captain, Damian de Allende. Article by Ntsako Mukhari

Written by: Lindiwe Mabena

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