The Springboks kept Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series alive with an important win over the All Blacks this past weekend, although there was some concern when star fullback Damian Willemse went down with an injury just before half-time.
Although Willemse won’t be available for this Saturday’s third Test, the good news is that the injury is not too serious.
“He pulled a hamstring, grade one, so he should be on the plane on Sunday to Baltimore (for the fourth and final Test in the USA),” Rassie Erasmus confirmed on Monday after naming the team for this weekend’s clash at FNB Stadium.
More good news for the Springboks
Besides the availability of Willemse for next weekend’s fourth Test, the Springboks should also be able to consider Grant Williams (ankle injury) Canan Moodie (hamstring injury) and Handre Pollard (calf strain).
“Handre, Grant and Canan will be on the plane to Baltimore,” Erasmus also confirmed. “They’ll be ready for selection next week.”
Zooming in on this Saturday’s match, Erasmus added: “This game is going to be equally, if not more intense than the last two given the fact that the team that wins this match will be two games up in the series, which will make the clash in the USA the decider or game that could see the series finish in a draw, so there will be a different vibe around this match.
“We are excited that we will be playing at the FNB stadium, where on a good day there is an 80 000 strong crowd, and that will be a new and exciting experience for our players because most of these players have never ran onto the field there, and the support we enjoy there will add to the occasion.
“With the vuvuzelas and passionate crowd there, we can hardly hear one another on the field, so we are all thrilled about this occasion. But make no mistake, this is going to be another intense battle between the two top teams in the world who are both looking to get an edge in the series, so we know what we have to do, and composure and accuracy are going to be vital for both sides.”
The match kicks off at 17:10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
HOW THE BOKS WILL LINE UP THIS WEEKEND
SPRINGBOKS – 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nché.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 André Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok.
