Rassie reinstates Willie and Cheslin
06/30/2024 01:10 AM
Rassie Erasmus is set to deploy World Cup winners Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse as the Springbok back three against Ireland in Pretoria on Saturday.
According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, the seasoned trio is favoured to start at Loftus Versfeld in the first of two Tests between the Boks and Ireland in the Republic.
The experience of 93-cap Le Roux is of great value to the Boks, especially in the absence of fullback Damian Willemse. It is understood that Kolbe and Arendse, stars of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, are set to start ahead of Makazole Mapimpi, Aphelele Fassi and Edwill van der Merwe who are battling fitness issues following the Boks’ win over Wales.
READ: Rassie selects Ireland squad
Erasmus must consider several selection posers before Tuesday's squad announcement. At flyhalf, Handré Pollard and Manie Libbok are contrasting candidates for the No 10 jersey.
In the loose trio, Evan Roos and Kwagga Smith are in contention to join fit-again captain Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit, and the centre combination is a choice between Andre Esterhuizen, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel and Lukhanyo Am.
The report also suggests Erasmus’ bench strategy could shift to a conventional 5-3 split, pending clarity around the status of scrumhalf Faf de Klerk’s leg injury.
Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images
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