Springboks: SEVEN changes to expect before Rugby World Cup 2023

The Springboks starting XV and bomb squad is likely to look quite different when Nienaber selects his starting XV for the big Rugby World Cup matches.

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Siya Kolisi and Handre Pollard are both scheduled to return in August, for the Springboks Rugby World Cup warm-up matches.

Meaning, both men are likely to be thrown into the starting XV for the big games against Scotland and Ireland and the prospective quarter final against New Zealand or hosts, France. While Ox Nche should make his way on to the bench. Finally, there are a couple of tactical changes we expect too.

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These are the likely changes Nienaber will make from his side named to face New Zealand and his team for the big matches in the Rugby World Cup in France.

FOUR CHANGES TO THE STARTING XV FOR THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

As mentioned, Kolisi’s will return to the starting line-up where he will resume the captaincy. He will replace Kwagga Smith.

Furthermore, Pollard is the first choice number 10 and is likely to return to return to the starting line-up as well, taking over from Manie Libbok or Damien Willemse.

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Then, we expect Malcolm Marx to come in for Bongi Mbonambi for the big games, as he did last year. He was the man of the match against NZ in Mbombela and he started against Ireland and France (the worlds top two teams) in the November international series.

Then, du Toit is favoured to take over from Franco Mostert. This is because he is a specialist flanker while Mostert is a utility forward. Moreover, du Toit looked sharp against the Wallabies at Loftus and he is one of our key players.

CHANGES EXPECTED IN THE BOMB SQUAD

Ox Nche will take over from Thomas du Toit when he returns from injury. He was highly impressive in the training sessions before he got injured.

“We are particularly sad for Ox because he’s been working very hard in the last few months and making a great contribution on and off the field. We wish him a speedy recovery,” Nienaber stated in a pre-match conference to SA Rugby before the Boks took on Australia.

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In other changes, Pollards return will force Willemse and Libbok to the bench.

Now, if the Boks go with a 6-2 split then either Willemse or Libbok will be dropped. Finally, with Kwagga demoted to the bench, either Mostert or Duane Vermeulen will fall out of the picture.

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