Rugby

Nienaber to give players a chance to fight for World Cup spot

Springbok coach Jaques Nienaber appears to give as many players as potential a chance to show themselves earlier than naming their 33-man Rugby World Cup squad on Tuesday, 8 August.

This week, he made 14 adjustments to his beginning line-up that’s set to face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

“We’ve been emphasising the significance of giving as many players as potential a honest chance to present what they will do with an eye fixed on finalising our Rugby World Cup squad, so we’re happy to give Herschel and Jean-Luc a chance to play.

ALSO READ: Springboks resume coaching in Pretoria forward of ultimate residence Test

Nienaber selects totally different Boks staff for Argentina

“This is going to be a massive physical battle and there will be a lot of pressure on the players mentally and physically, which is exactly the type of situation we would like to see them in as we enter our World Cup warm-up games,” Nienaber stated.

Bongi Mbonambi, who will earn his sixtieth Test cap this weekend, takes over as captain of the Springboks. Regular captain Siya Kolisi remains to be recovering from a knee harm whereas stand-in captains Eben Etzebeth and Duane Vermeulen aren’t a part of the travelling squad to Argentina.

ALSO READ: Springboks coach blames All Blacks defeat on sluggish begin

Nienaber says staff chosen might be a vastly totally different staff to final week.

“There’s a fair bit of experience within this squad, and apart from Gerhard, most of the players have been in the selection mix in the last two seasons,” stated Nienaber.

ALSO READ: All Blacks names STRONG staff to face Springboks

“There is not a player in our enlarged squad who is fully confident that he will be in the World Cup squad, so the competition for places is intense. Each one of the players is desperate for an opportunity to play and it’s evident in the way they’ve been training and in the hard work they’ve been doing off the field, so we’re excited to see what they bring this weekend.”

ALSO READ: Etzebeth to lead the Boks towards Allblacks

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