ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021

Selection changes both ways as Boks and Lions get ready for second Test

South Africa and the British & Irish Lions have both named significant changes for the crucial second Test of the series in Cape Town.

ADVERTISEMENT

Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has reacted to the 22-17 defeat last Saturday by replacing the ineffectual Kwagga Smith with Leicester number eight Jasper Wiese, who came on as a replacement against Georgia on July 2.

There are two adjustments to the front row with only hooker Bongi Mbonambi surviving as the Springboks give starts to props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe.

Ox Nche, one of the starting props for the first Test, has been ruled out by a neck problem but Mbonambi continues after recovering from a hamstring issue.

South Africa have opted for a six-two split on the bench, which includes Saracens tighthead Vincent Koch. Marco van Staden takes over from Rynhardt Elstadt as back row cover alongside Smith.

“This is a massive game for us – it’s do or die in order to stay in the race to win the series,” Nienaber said.

“We have selected a team that offers continuity in selection, but also one that we thought would be the best suited to achieve the objectives we have set for this match.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We disappointed ourselves last week and we all know how important it is to bounce back with a strong performance and show our fighting spirit and pride as a team and nation.”

SPRINGBOK TEAM:

Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handré Pollard (vice-captain), Faf de Klerk, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch, Lood de Jager, Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith, Herschel Jantjies, Damian Willemse.

LIONS SELECTIONS

British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has turned to tour veterans Conor Murray and Mako Vunipola, also handing tough-tackling Chris Harris a first start, in three changes to last weekend’s winning team.

Irish scrum half Murray and English prop Vunipola both came off the bench to help the Lions to victory at the Cape Town Stadium and now start the second match of the series at the same venue.

ADVERTISEMENT

Vunipola, 30, who played all three Tests on tour in Australia in 2013 and New Zealand in 2017, replaces Scotland’s Rory Sutherland. The 32-year-old Murray, also a veteran of two previous Lions tours, takes over at scrum half from Scotland’s Ali Price.

Price and Sutherland are among the substitutes.

Murray will partner flyhalf Dan Biggar, who must however still complete his return-to-play protocol and assessment by an independent concussion consultant.

Gatland’s other change is at outside centre where Elliot Daly failed to impact in Saturday’s first Test and is replaced by Chris Harris.

Daly goes on the bench in place of Liam Williams, who drops out of the match-day 23.

Gatland also added loose forward Taulupe Faletau, who has four Lions Test caps, to the bench ahead of Hamish Watson.

“As always, selection was incredibly tough,” said Gatland. “However, we’ve made the changes we think are the right calls for the weekend’s game.

“It’ll be another tight contest. We know the Springboks will be hurting and they’ll throw everything at us on Saturday, but … we feel we can go up another level from where we were in the first Test.

“It’s the biggest game on the tour and we have to embrace the expectation that comes with it.

“We’re relishing the opportunity to face the Springboks again on Saturday and potentially seal a series win,” Gatland said.

Ben O’Keeffe from New Zealand has been appointed as the referee for the match, with Mathieu Raynal (France) and Nic Berry (Australia) serving as his assistant referees, while Marius Jonker (South Africa) will be the television match official.

LIONS TEAM:

Stuart Hogg, Anthony Watson, Chris Harris, Robbie Henshaw, Duhan van der Merwe, Dan Biggar, Conor Murray, Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Maro Itoje, Tadhg Furlong, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola.

Replacements: Ken Owens, Rory Sutherland, Kyle Sinckler, Tadhg Beirne, Taulupe Faletau, Ali Price, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly.

Video Spacer

Related Articles

  • 34 WEEKS AGO

    Ellis Genge puts on his boxing gloves ready...

  • 34 WEEKS AGO

    Crazy scenes as player deliberately kicks...

  • 34 WEEKS AGO

    RFU make decision on transgender players...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Incredible Camera Work During URC Clash Shows Rugby Player’s Athleticism

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Heart Breaking Six Nations Ending For Italy As Scotland Score Long Range Try

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Montpellier Number Eight Zach Mercer Outlandish Attacking Skill

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Damian Penaud Pulls Off a "van der Merwe" in Outrageous French Try

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Ireland Winger James Lowe With World Class Finish In Titanic Battle With France

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 13 HOURS AGO

    Referee Luke Pearce Gets Hit Hard In Harlequins vs Saracens Clash

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Owen Farrell On The Receiving End Of An Illegal Hit

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Refereeing Legend Nigel Owens Breaks Down Freddie Steward Incident

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    England and Ireland fans express disappointment in grand slam refereeing decisions

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    England Fullback Shown Red For Collision With Opposite Number

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Sevens magic as 'headed' try brings stadium to its feet

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Almost 35,000 have now signed petition to reverse new grassroots tackle laws

View All

Funnies

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Whole Irish squad turn up to teammates parents house for drinking session

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Jonathan Sexton Fantastic Comeback Caught On Ref Mic

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Hilarious Footage Of English Players Post Leg Day Workout

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Mack Hansen leaves viewers in stitches with hilarious post-match interview mistake

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    A Look Back At Rugby’s Greatest Ever Film

View All

Amateur

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 34 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 34 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 34 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Youth and experience combine in an effort to repeat Six Nations upset

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Wales international releases emotional statement after being offered contract that isn’t enough to feed family

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea causes outrage with ‘throat slitting’ gesture

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Smith, Marchant and Murley released from England camp to take part in 'Big Game 14'

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Mack Hansen leaves viewers in stitches with hilarious post-match interview mistake

View All