There is no place for Handre Pollard, Willie le Roux and Damian de Allende in the Springbok XV set to battle Ireland on Saturday, according to SARugbymag.co.za readers.
Readers expressed their unwavering faith in Manie Libbok by selecting him at flyhalf ahead of Pollard, who returned to the Bok squad on Monday.
There was also little doubt in their minds when selecting the front row, backing regulars Steven Kitshoff (18%) and Frans Malherbe (17%) to pack down alongside hooker Bongi Mbonambi (18%).
After nursing a shoulder injury, Eben Etzebeth is cleared to face the Irish and readers swiftly voted the Bok lock (19%) into the starting XV. He slots in next to Franco Mostert (11%), who edged RG Snyman (7%) to complete the second row.
The tried and trusted back row of Siya Kolisi (32%), Pieter-Steph du Toit (32%), and Duane Vermeulen (21%) was the readers’ top choice.
Despite his inconsistent goalkicking, readers backed Libbok (38%) ahead of Pollard (10%). He joins Faf de Klerk (37%), who comfortably bested the other scrumhalves in the squad to secure his starting berth.
READ: All-white Boks tackle Ireland?
It’s also time for Andre Esterhuizen (28%) to take over from De Allende (23%) and man the midfield with Jesse Kriel (26%), who starts at 13 ahead of Canan Moodie (19%).
And, after a sub-par game against Romania, readers booted Le Roux (12%) for Damian Willemse (19%) at fullback, while Cheslin Kolbe (32%) and Kurt-Lee Arendse (25%) will man the wide channels.
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter