Scrum-halves taking over as Springboks ring changes

By BEN JAYCOCK

PREVIEW…

South Africa v Romania

Today. Kick-off 2pm, Stade de Bordeaux

Jacques Nienaber’s South Africa have built themselves on versatility and that philosophy is illustrated with four scrum-halves in the match day 23 for their encounter against Romania today.

Grant Williams starts on the wing, Cobus Reinach takes the nine jersey, Jaden Hendrikse is on the bench and Faf de Klerk covers fly-half from the replacements.

“I’m not being disrespectful to Romania but it’s an opportunity to try him (De Klerk) out in a Test match under pressure at 10. He’s trained there for us numerous times,” Nienaber said.

“We’ve said Faf is our third-choice fly-half but this is a nice opportunity to give him a run at 10, controlling the game at 10 at Test-match level.”

The Boks were rocked by hooker Malcolm Marx’s injury but they haven’t called up a replacement yet, with Deon Fourie – usually a back-row – providing cover there from the bench.

Nienaber’s side are aiming to get the job done, without thinking of what’s to come.

“If we in any way think of further games in the competition, it will be disrespectful to the players that we selected to play for South Africa and it will be disrespectful to the opponents,” Nienaber said. “It’s not a risk for us. It is well calculated. We are comfortable with what we saw in training. We believe that the guys are good enough in those position to beat the opposition.”

Cover: Faf de Klerk

Following Romania’s 82-8 humbling by Ireland last weekend, Marius Iftimiciuc comes into the second row in place of Stefan Iancu, who moves to the bench, while Andre Gorin will become the 24th Romania player in the space of a week to make their World Cup debut after being named on the blindside.

The only other change of personnel comes at centre, where Taylor Gontineac replaces Fonovai Tangimana.

Tighthead prop Alexandru Gordas and No.8 and captain Cristian Chirica are Romania’s most experienced players in the match-23 with 35 caps apiece.

The only player in the starting XV that continues from South Africa’s 18-3 victory over Scotland in Marseille is utility back Damian Willemse, who switches from full back to fly-half.

Canan Moodie resumes his midfield-partnership with the hard-running Andre Esterhuizen, while Jean Kleyn partners Marvin Orie in the engine room.

The experienced Willie le Roux jumps from the bench to the starting lineup at fullback, while Makazole Mapimpi will accompany Williams on the wing. Ox Nche, Vincent Koch and Bongi Mbonambi join forces in the front row, and Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith and Duane Vermeulen form a new loose trio.