Coach tweaks Boks for the second Test

TEST rugby‚ it is often suggested‚ is a game of inches and in full anticipation of an England backlash in the second Test‚ the Springboks have slightly upsized their pack.

The introduction of Frans Malherbe at tighthead and Pieter-Steph du Toit at flank will add five and six centremetres respectively to the Bok forward unit‚ as Wilco Louw and Jean-Luc du Preez vacate the starting team.

On the bench Jesse Kriel makes a return‚ while Elton Jantjies drops out of the matchday 23.

“With Jesse we just feel that when the game opened up last week we needed some speed out there and Jesse covers obviously centre and the outside backs as well‚” said Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.

Malherbe returns after recovering from a neck injury that made him a long-term absentee. The last time he played for the Boks was against France in Durban last year.

He cracks the nod at the expense of Louw who has had to carry a heavy workload this season. In Malherbe’s absence at the Stormers‚ Louw has had to see more combat than he should have.

“Wilco has just been playing every single minute so I guess he is pretty punch drunk‚” Erasmus bluntly put forward his rationale.

As expected also in the starting lineup is Tendai Mtawarira who will play his 100th Test for the Springboks tomorrow.

Springboks to play England – Willie le Roux; S’Busiso Nkosi‚ Lukhanyo Am‚ Damian de Allende‚ Aphiwe Dyantyi; Handre Pollard‚ Faf de Klerk; Duane Vermeulen‚ Pieter-Steph du Toit‚ Siya Kolisi (capt); Franco Mostert‚ RG Snyman; Frans Malherbe‚ Bongi Mbonambi‚ Tendai Mtawarira.

Reserves: Akker van der Merwe‚ Steven Kitshoff‚ Thomas du Toit‚ Jean-Luc du Preez‚ Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Ivan van Zyl‚ Jesse Kriel‚ Warrick Gelant. —