MBOMBELA, South Africa (AP) — Flyhalf Manie Libbok will surprisingly start for South Africa when it tries to secure the Rugby Championship title against Argentina this weekend.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Handre Pollard have worn the 10 jersey for the Springboks through the championship. Pollard has dropped to the reserves and Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been stood down for a second straight test.
Libbok has appeared twice in the championship off the bench, including last Saturday when they suffered their first loss in the tournament to the Pumas, 29-28 in Santiago del Estero, where he missed a late penalty to win the match and title.
This year he has started just one test, against Portugal. Libbok was the No. 1 flyhalf for the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup a year ago, but he was pulled during the semifinal and wasn’t picked for the final. Pollard led the Boks to the title, instead.
Coach Rassie Erasmus defended Libbok on Tuesday.
“Manie’s general play is fantastic, and he brings a lot of energy and playmaking abilities to the backline,” Erasmus said. “He dictates play well, so we back Manie fully to do the job for us at flyhalf.
“It’s not just up to him to find solutions for his goalkicking, it is something we have to do as a team, and we are working on a plan.”
What’s more, Libbok will start for the first time with scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, who has also risen up the pecking order ahead of Cobus Reinach and Grant Williams, who featured in the two home wins over New Zealand.
Erasmus made 10 changes, one positional, for Saturday’s last home test of the year.
Restored as starters were the likes of Cheslin Kolbe, Peter-Steph du Toit, captain Siya Kolisi and lock Eben Etzebeth, whose 128th test will eclipse Victor Matfield as the most capped Springbok.
Also back were front-rowers Bongi Mbonambi and Frans Malherbe, and center Damian de Allende. Kurt-Lee Arendse has swapped wings to accommodate Kolbe.
The Springboks are back to the same starting pack that defeated New Zealand 18-12 in Cape Town, and the same five forward replacements. They have gone back to a 5-3 bench with Reinach, Pollard and Lukhanyo Am covering the backline.
The Springboks need only a point to win their first title since 2019. Argentina can take a first title only with a bonus-point win that also denies South Africa a point.
“We planned to recall the players we rested last week because it allowed us to ensure that we have a group of core players who remained in the South African time zone and who would slot back into the team with ease,” Erasmus said.
“They will not only bring fresh legs and vast experience, it also allows us to select a settled team that played most of the matches (this year). The match-23 also includes 19 Rugby World Cup winners, while the other players have performed under immense pressure in the competition this season and they all deserve their places.
“It’s going to be a massive challenge against an Argentina that has something special brewing in their set-up and who will give everything to win their first title in the competition, and we selected this team with that in mind.”
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South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Jaden Hendrikse; Jasper Wiese, Peter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby