You’d expect the Bok side to be loaded with Lions players. However just seven Lions players made the cut. Warren Whiteley is injured and Ruan Dreyer, Ruan Combrinck, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Faf de Klerk – all previous Springboks – are out of favour.
For a rugby team that’s unbeaten at Ellis Park all season, it’s strange to see the Lions going into their Super Rugby semi-final against the Hurricanes as the underdogs.
The Lions wingers, Ruan Combrinck and Courtnall Skosan, didn’t make Bok coach Allister Coetzee’s choices any easier after their weekend performances against the Bulls.
Rob Houwing rates the Boks performance, and it’s clear there’s a lot of work to be done – apart from Faf de Klerk – who made a forceful start to his international career.
Sport24’s Herman Mostert highlights 5 talking points following the Springboks’ 19-13 series-clinching win over Ireland in Port Elizabeth.
Allister Coetzee has given No 8 Warren Whiteley and wing Ruan Combrinck their first starts for the Springboks after impressive performances off the bench last week.
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee applauded the fighting spirit of his team, following the remarkable comeback that saw the team snatch a 32-26 win over Ireland in the second of three Tests.
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has made five changes to his match-23 – four of them necessitated by injury.