There are 10 survivors from the team that suffered a historic home defeat to Ireland at Newlands that will be on duty for the Springboks in the first Test series since 2016.
The world champion Springboks are ready to welcome Six Nations champs Ireland back to South African shores in the first series between the juggernauts in eight years
When Ireland were last in Mzansi, the Springboks had appointed former Stormers and Western Province coach Allister Coetzee as successor to Heyneke Meyer, following their third-place finish at the 2015 World Cup.
Assistant to Jake White when the Boks won the World Cup in 2007, Coetzee was appointed to implement a fresh and ambitious style of play and evolve South Africa beyond the forward-dominated gameplan that became synonymous with the Meyer-era.
With Victor Matfield, Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger and Fourie du Preez retiring after the 2015 World Cup, Coetzee had to appoint a new captain and opted for experienced hooker Adriaan Strauss, who had played 54 Test matches before the series.
Going into the series, the Springboks had good reason to be confident. They had never lost to Ireland at home, had won two of the last three Tests between the two, and had a good blend between experience and youth, being able to call on the likes of Tendai Mtawarira, Eben Etzebeth, Francois Louw, Pat Lambie and JP Pietersen to guide some of the Test rookies called up by Coetzee.
Announcing his first Springbok lineup, Coetzee named 12-cap tighthead Frans Malherbe to join Strauss and Mtawarira in the front row, while 19-cap, 23-year-old Lood de Jager – then SA Rugby’s reigning Player of the Year for 2015 – formed the second row with Etzebeth, who was closing in on his 50th Test cap for South Africa. In the back row, Siya Kolisi started at blindside flank, with Louw at openside and Toulon-based Duane Vermeulen at No 8.
Faf de Klerk made a starting Test debut on the back of a strong season for the Lions, forming the halfback combo with 50-Test Lambie. Damian de Allende and Lionel Mapoe formed a relatively inexperienced midfield, with just 14 Tests between them, while wings Lwazi Mvovo and Pietersen and fullback Willie le Roux completed the backline.
Coetzee named a very inexperienced bench, with the most experienced member of the impact squad being 23-cap Bulls prop Trevor Nyakane, while uncapped Bongi Mbonambi was set to make his Test debut, but did not make it onto the field until the final match of the series. Substitutes Elton Jantjies, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Warren Whiteley, Rudy Paige and Julian Redelinghuys all had under 10 caps.
The game itself would become infamous for an incident in the 20th minute, when South African-raised Ireland loose forward CJ Stander collided dangerously with Lambie, while attempting to charge down a kick, knocking out the flyhalf and being sent off.
Lambie would only earn five more Test caps, as concussions marred the rest of his rugby career, before he retired on medical advice in January 2019.
The game was stalemated at 13-13 at half time, with Mvovo dotting down and Janties adding a conversion and penalty for the Boks, while Paddy Jackson converted Ireland’s only try of the half, adding a penalty and drop goal.
Despite playing with 14 men, Ireland were the stronger of the two teams in the second half and sealed a shock 26-20 victory in front of over 42, 000 fans, despite Du Toit’s first Test try giving the Boks hope of a comeback.
The Springboks will potentially call on 10 players from the match to face Ireland once more in the 2024 series opener at Loftus Versfeld.
Malherbe is once again set to anchor the scrum at tighthead prop, while Etzebeth is set to make his 121st Test appearance, closing in on Matfield’s record for most Test for South Africa (127).
Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that two-time World Cup-winning captain Kolisi will retain his role as the Bok leader and openside for the series, despite now plying his trade for Paris club Racing 92.
De Klerk, whose efforts on defence were crucial to the Boks securing a series victory, is ready to be called on again to hunt Ireland, while De Allende and Jesse Kriel – a substitute in the 2016 opener – could form the midfield.
Le Roux is closing in on earning his 100th Test cap, while Du Toit will join Kolisi in the Bok back row, and Nyakane is set to be part of the Bok Bomb Squad alongside Mbonambi.
Photo: Luke Walker/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
