De Allende could be back for Boks
CHANGES: DE ALLENDE COULD RETURN TO THE MIDFIELD
Coach Rassie Erasmus has become notorious for making regular changes to his Springbok team – even to a winning line-up – and he will again have had a lot of food for thought before naming his squad today for the backlash they face against the All Blacks at Loftus this weekend.
The biggest changes could come at inside centre and No 8, where Erasmus kept his cards close to his chest, with potential recalls for Damian de Allende and Warren Whiteley respectively.
De Allende suffered a shoulder injury in the recent victory over the All Blacks in Wellington, but had since returned to full training, according to Bok forwards coach Matt Proudfoot.
Whiteley missed both Monday and Tuesday’s training sessions due to a groin concern, which made his return unlikely.
There was a general “rule” in the national camp that if individuals did not train on Tuesday, they did not play on Saturday because it would be unfair on those who had completed full training.
Erasmus could name either Francois Louw or Marco van Staden on the bench as a safety net, should Sikhumbuzo Notshe find the going tough.
Other changes could see Sbu Nkosi replace Cheslin Kolbe at right wing, while at loosehead Steven Kitshoff could again be rotated with Beast Mtawarira.
While the Boks last recorded back-to-back wins against New Zealand in 2009, Proudfoot did not feel this weekend’s match would define the Boks’ season.
“I don’t think a single game could determine a season. If it was a World Cup final I would have thought differently, but this team is all about growing and getting better,” he said.
Flyhalf Handre Pollard believed they would have to be on song against a team who were hurting.
“There’s no doubt they will be coming hard at us,” Pollard said.
“They don’t like losing and they would want to rectify matters. We know it’s going to be hard and physical and we will have to match that.”