As South Africa gears up for another blockbuster clash with the All Blacks, fans were expecting to see some familiar faces in the starting lineup.
But the Springbok coaches surprised many by leaving out one of the nation’s most iconic players.
Eben Etzebeth, the 33-year-old lock widely regarded as one of the greatest Springboks of all time, will sit out this weekend’s test in Wellington.
With 136 Test appearances and two World Cups under his belt, Etzebeth’s absence is certainly a talking point, especially given the magnitude of the match.
While he hasn’t been at his menacing best this season, most expected him to feature in a game of this stature.
Rotation Strategy Behind Etzebeth’s Omission
Instead of Etzebeth, the Springboks have opted to field Ruan Nortje and Lood de Jager in the second row, with RG Snyman available on the bench for lock cover.
Springbok ‘mobi-unit’ coach Duane Vermeulen explained the logic behind this decision.
“You can’t play a guy like Eben every week because he’ll burn out, and we still want him to play for a few more years, so some rotation is necessary,” Vermeulen said.
He added that the bench has experienced cover in RG Snyman, and Ruan Nortje has already proven himself under pressure last year when injuries forced him into the team.
“It might look unusual to have two No. 5 locks in the pack, but they know their roles and can step up without Eben.
This is a good chance to test their ability in a high-pressure match.”
Springbok Lineup for the All Blacks Clash
South Africa’s starting XV for Saturday, September 8, at Wellington Regional Stadium is:
Starting XV: Aphelele Fassi (15), Cheslin Kolbe (14), Canan Moodie (13), Damian Willemse (12), Ethan Hooker (11), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (10), Cobus Reinach (9), Jasper Wiese (8), Pieter-Steph du Toit (7), Siya Kolisi (6, captain), Ruan Nortje (5), Lood de Jager (4), Thomas du Toit (3), Malcolm Marx (2), Ox Nche (1).
Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe (16), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (17), Wilco Louw (18), RG Snyman (19), Kwagga Smith (20), Grant Williams (21), Manie Libbok (22), Andre Esterhuizen (23).
Match Details: Kick-off at 09:05 SA time, referee Nika Amashukeli from Georgia, with Angus Gardner and Jordan Way as assistant referees and TMO Eric Gauzins.
Springboks vs All Blacks: Key Stats
Historically, South Africa has played New Zealand 109 times, winning 42 matches, losing 63, and drawing four.
They’ve scored 1,807 points and conceded 2,259, with a total of 175 tries scored against 247 conceded
. The Springboks’ win percentage against the All Blacks stands at 38.6%.