South Africa’s (SA) Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is banking on a heavily experienced forward pack to shake off match rust ahead of the upcoming European tour, loading his starting lineup with World Cup-winning muscle for Saturday’s clash against the Barbarians.
Up front, explosive prop Ox Nche and Carlü Sadie will lock arms with young hooker Andre-Hugo Venter, while Salmaan Moerat and Franco Mostert take charge of the engine room. The Boks are taking zero chances in the back row, unleashing their premier, battle-hardened loose trio of captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese.
The decision to start Venter comes as Erasmus deliberately rotates his squad and manages workloads before heading north to face England.
“Experience-wise, you want to get guys who haven’t played together for six months to try to get them together,” Erasmus explained. “Malcolm is fine, he can play this weekend, but we feel it’s time to give other hookers a chance.”
The rugby double-header at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium kicks off at 12:00 CAT on Saturday with SA ‘A’ taking on Zimbabwe, followed immediately by the Springboks and the Barbarians at 15:00 CAT.
–ChannelAfrica–
