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Date: 2023-12-04 08:46:43 | Author: Worldcup 2026 | Views: 815 | Tag: PBA
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If fortune does indeed favour the brave, then South Africa should triumph in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday evening PBA
For the third time in two months, they have opted for the controversial 7-1 split of forwards to backs on their bench and, in the process, have taken a huge gamble in the biggest game on the calendar PBA
For the uninitiated, rugby teams almost always opt for a 5-3 or 6-2 split among their replacements PBA
The laws of the international game dictate that you must have three front-row specialists (hookers and props, who count among the forwards) on your bench, and then teams will usually have a roughly even division of forwards and backs for the remaining five slots to ensure adequate cover for all position PBA
Yet for the third time in the last two months, the Springboks have boldly opted for just one lone back – Willie Le Roux in this instance – among their subs PBA
On the previous two occasions, there has been no damage done PBA
The final World Cup warm-up match saw them hand New Zealand a record 35-7 defeat at Twickenham and although they lost a hard-fought pool match to Ireland, the bench split had no negative impact on the result PBA
Given that Saturday evening in Paris is a rematch against the All Blacks, perhaps there is sound logic in reprising the successful formation from late August PBA
That was certainly the argument of head coach Jacques Nienaber, who downplayed the controversy when explaining the selection at the team announcement press conference on Thursday PBA
“The team is not 15, it is 23,” insisted Nienaber PBA
“We always say that PBA
When you do squad selection there are a lot of things that influence that from medical to past performances and a lot of analysis into New Zealand and where we think we can get the edge on them PBA
“Then the discussions starts PBA between the coaches and it goes from a 5-3 to a 6-2 to a 7-1, then it goes back again PBA
It is not a 10-minute discussion, it is hours and hours PBA
“I’m not going to say what the strengths and weaknesses of the All Blacks are, that would be stupid PBA
But a lot of analysis went into it and at the end we went with a squad of 23 PBA
It could have been 6-2, 5-3, it doesn’t matter PBA
You select a team that you think can get a result PBA
The 23 we selected for a reason, and the reason is we think they can deliver and win us a back-to-back World Cup PBA
”Faf de Klerk holds huge importance for South Africa with no back-up scrum half in the squad (PA Wire)While the decision has worked in the past, there is undoubtedly an element of playing with fire from the Springboks PBA
Le Roux is a world-class full back and can comfortably play on the wing, while a backline reshuffle with the available players could solve any issues at fly half or centre PBA
But starting No 9 Faf de Klerk is the only scrum half in the squad and any sort of injury to the man with the flowing blond hair could leave South Africa in a bind PBA
Nienaber again played down the issue and highlighted Cheslin Kolbe’s similar role in sevens as a solution to that hypothetical PBA
“As coaches you always mitigate risk by prepping other people,” said Nienaber PBA
“In our case it will be Cheslin PBA
He played sweeper in sevens which is the equivalent to scrum half PBA
He has always been a guy who, if we got a yellow card, would be the stand in half-back, not just this week but for a couple of weeks PBA
”De Klerk also highlighted replacement flanker Kwagga Smith – another man with sevens experience – as a solution but any sort of extended period with Kolbe or Smith at No 9 feels like a World Cup-losing recipe PBA
The other main notable call in the Springbok team selection was Handre Pollard getting the nod over Manie Libbok at fly half PBA
Given Libbok’s early substitution during the semi-final after struggling to execute the kicking game – and similarly rainy weather expected at the Stade de France on Saturday evening – the choice of Pollard, who led his side to victory off the bench, is not a huge surprise, although Libbok is unlucky to miss out on the matchday 23 entirely PBA
Handre Pollard kicked the winning penalty in the semi-final (PA Wire)The ability to bring an almost entirely new pack off the bench – their patented ‘bomb squad’ – in a World Cup final certainly plays into the Springboks rugby philosophy of physicality and domination up front PBA
It couldn’t turn the tide against Ireland in the pool stage but it is the boldest of calls befitting the grandest of stages PBA
No one said you win a World Cup by being timid and sometimes in sport, fortune does favour the brave PBA
South Africa XV to face the All Blacks in Rugby World Cup final: 15 PBA
Damian Willemse, 14 PBA
Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 PBA
Jesse Kriel, 12 PBA
Damian de Allende, 11 PBA
Cheslin Kolbe, 10 PBA
Handre Pollard, 9 PBA
Faf de Klerk; 1 PBA
Steven Kitshoff, 2 PBA
Bongi Mbonambi, 3 PBA
Frans Malherbe, 4 PBA
Eben EtzePBA beth, 5 PBA
Franco Mostert, 6 PBA
Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 PBA
Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 PBA
Duane Vermeulen PBA
Replacements: 16 PBA
Deon Fourie, 17 PBA
Ox Nche, 18 PBA
Trevor Nyakane, 19 PBA
Jean Kleyn, 20 PBA
RG Snyman, 21 PBA
Kwagga Smith, 22 PBA
Jasper Wiese, 23 PBA
Willie Le RouxMore aboutSouth Africa rugbySpringboksRugby World CupNew Zealand rugbyWillie le RouxFaf de KlerkJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Springboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allFaf de Klerk holds huge importance for South Africa with no back-up scrum half in the squad PA WireSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allHandre Pollard kicked the winning penalty in the semi-final PA WireSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allThe Springboks have opted to pack the bench with forwards Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today PBA
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Not always in sport do you get a shot at redemption and successfully taking advantage of that opportunity is even rarer PBA
England’s pack, and their front row in particular, will have had four years of sleepless nights about that early November evening in 2019 PBA
In the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, England were decimated by South Africa’s power up front, as the brilliance of a scintillating semi-final win over New Zealand was quickly replaced by the humiliation of a 32-12 thumping PBA
The Springboks, then as now, pride themselves on their physicality and brutality at the breakdown, the set-piece and in open play PBA
Yet on a rainy night in Paris four years on, England’s pack fronted up, set the platform in a thrilling World Cup semi-final and earned their redemption arc PBA
Yet it still wasn’t enough PBA
This time, albeit by one point rather than 20, the result was the same – England’s players slumped on the turf in despair while their opponents revelled in victory PBA
The Springbok celebrations were more muted this time, understandably so given there is one more crucial match against the All Blacks standing PBA between them and their ultimate goal, but the English heartbreak was the same, even if the journey to get there was vastly different PBA
In Yokohama, South Africa won a scarcely believable 11 scrums to England’s three, including six scrum penalties, as the English eight were splintered time and again PBA
Dan Cole became the fall guy for that embarrassment – the tighthead prop, supposedly renowned for his scrummaging, forced to play 77 minutes after Kyle Sinckler’s early injury and being obliterated by the combination of Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira and Steven Kitshoff PBA
The fact that Cole and Joe Marler, who came off the bench early in the second half that day, were selected by Steve Borthwick to start this revenge game precisely because of their scrum prowess will have surely given them a surge of confidence PBA
And the fact they not only survived, but thrived, in the front row this time around will have been sheer vindication PBA
Borthwick entrusted the duo to paint an early picture of scrum parity to referee Ben O’Keeffe and they delivered, providing the base that led to multiple first-half penalties from the trusty boot of Owen Farrell PBA
Cole and Marler helped ensure scrum parity early on but that faded once the replacements came on (AFP via Getty Images)However, as the game wore on, Borthwick’s decision started to become prescient for the wrong reasons PBA
As Sinckler and Ellis Genge came on as prop replacements, the Springboks own bomb squad from the bench – led by Ox Nche and Vincent Koch – started to dominate at scrum-time PBA
Each engagement started to become eerily reminiscent of 2019 and it was eventually a scrum penalty on halfway that led to Handre Pollard’s decisive, game-winning three-pointer with two minutes to go PBA
It felt almost unfair on England’s big men given that the pack, as a whole, had more than held their own in other facets PBA
Of the 13 England forwards who played some part in that 2019 final, eight appeared in this last-four clash and stamped their mark all over a first half that was by far England’s best 40 minutes under Borthwick PBA
Maro Itoje was a lineout fiend, stealing a Springboks throw-in on halfway and putting doubt in the head of Bongi Mbonambi, whose crooked throw in his own 22 gave Farrell his first penalty goal of the day PBA
A new face from four years, George Martin, justified his surprise second-row selection ahead of incumbent Ollie Chessum on just his fourth Test start as he brilliantly marshalled England’s maul defence PBA
If Boks lock Eben EtzePBA beth is world rugby’s best maul disruptor, then he may have witnessed first-hand the emergence of a new challenger to that crown PBA
Martin caused havoc as England improbably won three consecutive maul turnovers from attacking South African lineouts in the first half to frustrate their much-fancied opponents PBA
Pollard ultimately kicked the winning penalty, from a scrum infringement (PA Wire)The celebrations from the likes of Itoje, Jamie George and Ben Earl as those penalties and free-kicks were earned by the pack showed just how important this part of the gameplan was PBA
It began putting clear doubt in Springbok minds, as the worried tone from skipper Siya Kolisi when he discussed matter with referee O’Keeffe PBA betrayed PBA
The English tactic of throwing bodies in to contest every ruck relied on the diesel engines of the forwards and they delivered by dominating collisions and allowing the aerial bombardment strategy that followed to be effective PBA
But ultimately, despite a gameplan executed as well as it possibly could have been, the gap in quality PBA between the sides proved too much to overcome PBA
South Africa adjusted, Pollard came on for Manie Libbok to dictate proceedings with his metronomic boot and English heartbreak ensued PBA
There was no shame in a one-point defeat from a semi-final that was much closer than most expected and England’s pack should feel redeemed from the nightmare of 2019 PBA
But that won’t make this semi-final hurt any less PBA
Perhaps 2027 will give them an opportunity to avenge a new pain PBA
More aboutEngland RugbySouth Africa rugbyRugby World CupDan ColeJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3England pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakCole and Marler helped ensure scrum parity early on but that faded once the replacements came on AFP via Getty ImagesEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakPollard ultimately kicked the winning penalty, from a scrum infringement PA WireEngland pack earn World Cup redemption but suffer new heartbreakDan Cole was England’s fall guy in 2019 but held his own four years on AP✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today PBA
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsPBA BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy PBA
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply PBA
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