In a last-minute effort to give all their players a chance to show what they are capable of before the Test Series against the British & Irish Lions, South Africa "A" will face the Vodacom Bulls in Cape Town Stadium @13h00 today.
Although one can understand the reasoning behind this fixture one can not help to wonder if the risk of injury to key players should have outweighed the time on the field to be gained.
Prediction:
It was made clear by both coaches that there were no requests from the Springbok camp and both teams were instructed to ask nor give any mercy. Therefore we can expect a very physical match, however, unfortunately for the Bulls, I do not expect their forwards to match those of the SA "A" team.
The Bulls' backline is a completely different monster and with Goosen in control, the SA "A" side will be tested on both defence and attack for 80 minutes.
The SA "A" side must be the favourites and should win with 10-15 points.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made wholesale changes to South Africa ‘A’ for their clash against the Vodacom Bulls at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
Flyhalf Elton Jantjies will lead the squad that features nine Rugby World Cup winners. Twelve changes were made to the starting team.
Only three players who started in the team’s 17-13 win against the British & Irish Lions on Wednesday retained their places in the starting team – Damian de Allende (centre), Marco van Staden (flank) and Joseph Dweba (hooker).
Aphelele Fassi (fullback), Rosko Specman (wing), Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf), Kwagga Smith (No 8), all of whom started in the Test against Georgia two weeks ago, are back in the starting lineup.
Fassi, who made his Test debut at wing, will form an exciting back three with Specman and the uncapped Yaw Penxe, while exciting centre Wandisile Simelane will join forces with the experienced De Allende in the midfield.
Nienaber named a physical loose trio featuring Smith, Rynhardt Elstadt and Van Staden, while Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg is promoted from the bench to the starting team where he will start alongside Jean-Luc du Preez in the second row.
Dweba, meanwhile, will pack down with vice-captain Vincent Koch and Coenie Oosthuizen in the front row.
The expanded replacements bench also has a completely different look to it with Fez Mbatha, Lizo Ggoboka, Thomas du Toit and Wilco Louw – who joined the squad earlier in the week as additional prop cover – named alongside Jasper Wiese, Sanele Nohamba, Sbu Nkosi, Jesse Kriel, and Damian Willemse.
“We wanted another SA ‘A’ match to give all the players a chance to show what they are capable of before we enter the Test Series against the British & Irish Lions, and we are excited to give these players this valuable opportunity,” said Nienaber.
“With several changes to the matchday squad, there won’t be much continuity from Wednesday’s match, but the game time and the chance for these players to show what they can offer on the field will be invaluable with an eye on improving our match fitness and building momentum before we enter the Test Series.”
The Bok coach looked forward to the clash and said: “The Vodacom Bulls have been a force to be reckoned with in domestic rugby since rugby resumed late last year after a long absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so we are expecting a good match-up.
“We want to make the most of this opportunity to build on our structures and systems and also to tick certain boxes before the Test matches against the British & Irish Lions.”
Vodacom Bulls head coach, Jake White announced an exciting side for this fixture, with Nizaam Carr named as captain.
Carr, who will be starting in the No.6 jersey, will captain the side that will see a number of changes to the team that took on New Nation Pumas in their previous outing in a Carling Currie Cup battle.
An exciting and long-awaited addition to the team is the debut of experienced former Springbok pivot, Johan Goosen, who will marshal the troops as the starting flyhalf on Saturday.
The Vodacom Bulls will retain continuity and experience in the form of another ex-Springbok, Cornal Hendricks, who will once again form a midfield partnership with Harold Vorster.
Simphiwe Matanzima, Schalk Erasmus and Jacques van Rooyen will be expected to provide some stability as the starting front row, while the lock pairing of Walt Steenkamp and Ruan Nortje continue their auspicious combination in the second row.
Excitement can be expected from the inclusion of youthful talents such as FC du Plessis, WJ Steenkamp and Muller Uys.
White, who is excited ahead of the clash, said: “The opportunity to be called in as opposition for the South Africa ‘A’ side is one we could not refuse. We will be going out to give it our best shot, with the intention of not only providing good opposition for them but also building and growing together as the Vodacom Bulls side.”
South Africa ‘A’: 15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Yaw Penxe, 13. Wandisile Simelane, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Rosko Specman, 10. Elton Jantjies (captain), 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Kwagga Smith, 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 4. Jean-Luc du Preez, 3. Vincent Koch, 2. Joseph Dweba, 1. Coenie Oosthuizen. Replacements: 16. Fez Mbatha, 17. Thomas du Toit, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Jasper Wiese, 20. Sanele Nohamba, 21. Sbu Nkosi, 22. Jesse Kriel, 23. Damian Willemse, 24. Lizo Gqoboka.
Vodacom Bulls: 15. FC du Plessis, 14. Marco Jansen van Vuren, 13. Harold Vorster, 12. Cornal Hendricks, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Zak Burger, 8. WJ Steenkamp, 7. Muller Uys, 6. Nizaam Carr (Capt), 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Jacques van Rooyen, 2. Schalk Erasmus, 1. Simphiwe Matanzima. Replacements: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Janko Swanepoel, 20. Arno Botha, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Chris Smith, 23. David Kriel.