Coetzee bolsters pack

Vincent Koch and Pieter-Steph du Toit will start for the Springboks against the All Blacks while hooker Malcolm Marx is set to make his Test debut from the bench.

Bok coach Allister Coetzee has made just two changes to his starting side for this massive clash with the All Blacks in Christchurch. Du Toit replaces Lood de Jager, who sustained a bruised knee last week against the Wallabies in Brisbane, while Koch gets the nod ahead of Lourens Adriaanse.

Changes to the bench see Marx replacing reserve hooker Bongi Mbonambi, and Willem Alberts coming in as loose forward cover. While Juan de Jongh has retained his starting position at No 12, Damian de Allende will provide cover from the bench.

'Malcolm has huge potential and we have a plan for him and Bongi Mbonambi because of Adriaan’s retirement at the end of the season,' said Coetzee. 'Malcolm now gets a chance on the reserve bench and it would be great to see him in action, should he get the chance to go on to the park.

'I have decided on a six-two split on the bench again as I believe Willem and Jaco (Kriel) will each make a big impact when they enter the field of play. I decided to swap Damian with Lionel Mapoe to ensure we have cover for the inside centre position.'

Francois Louw will win his 50th Test cap when he takes the field on Saturday. Bryan Habana will play in a landmark 120th Test for the Boks, and in doing so he will set a new world record for international appearances by a wing.

Springboks – 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Jaco Kriel, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Damian de Allende.

Photo: Anne Laing/HSM Images

Post by