Springbok Watch: Players in the Spotlight v Ireland

Quintin van Jaarsveld identifies five Springbok players who’ll be in the spotlight in the blockbuster World Cup clash against Ireland in Saint-Denis on Saturday.

Eben Etzebeth

In a big boost for the defending champions, the youngest-ever Springbok centurion has recovered from the injury he sustained in the tournament-opening 18-3 win over Scotland and returns in the No 4 jersey. 

As one of the game’s great giants, Etzebeth has an aura that elevates his team and strikes fear into the opposition. He’s the Boks’ champion warrior who will once again lead the physical charge yet is so much more than just an enforcer.

With two second-rowers in the Bomb Squad, expect Etzebeth to go full blast from the kick-off and empty the tank in rugby’s equivalent of a power play. 

Jasper Wiese

Wiese was one of the stars of the takedown of Scotland and has been backed to bring the fire and force in the virtual Pool B decider. 

Duane Vermeulen, as he showed in the 76-0 rout of Romania last Sunday, brings an extra dimension to the team with his pilfering skills and with Malcolm Marx ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury, the Boks don’t have a ball hawk in the run-on side. 

Therefore, Wiese is playing for the starting berth in the quarterfinals. Punish the Irish and throw in a turnover or two and he’s green and golden. Go MIA or cough up penalties and Vermeulen will likely be drafted in for the last-eight encounter following next weekend’s final pool game against Tonga. 

Manie Libbok

Libbok is a project and as such, it would’ve been wrong to kick him into touch and rope Handre Pollard straight into the starting line-up. 

Not having Pollard on the bench is a bit of a risk, though, and if Libbok misfires off the tee and the Boks lose a close game, the critics will be slamming the decision. 

Libbok had a blinder in the record 35-7 win over the All Blacks at Twickenham in the final warm-up game, including nailing all his kicks at goal, but fell back to his inconsistent ways against Scotland. 

With Ireland being the No 1-ranked team in the world and having an ace goal-kicker in Johnny Sexton, the pressure will be on Libbok to split the uprights like never before in his short international career as every point will count.

His duel with the Irish captain will be one of the key head-to-head battles and he has the ability to be a game-breaker with his playmaking prowess.

Damian Willemse

Willemse’s one of just two players who did duty against the Oaks who have retained their places in the run-on team (the other being Bongi) but moves from flyhalf to fullback.

With Willie le Roux struggling to regain his form, Willemse’s been preferred and a solid showing will likely see him hold onto the No 15 jersey for the quarters. 

It was good to see the fleet-footed utility back in the thick of the action last weekend and his solo try was a thing of beauty. This time around, it will be more about his positional play and hands under the high ball than his attacking skills. 

His decision-making will be crucial as well as he will have to play within himself for large parts of what should be a tactical chess match.

Kwagga Smith

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber have the rugby world talking again as they have gone back to the innovative yet controversial 7-1 split bench in favour of the forwards that they debuted with great effect in the record battering of the All Blacks.

As the seventh man in that equation, Smith has to cover wing if necessary, which is a big gamble against the Six Nations Grand Slam winners. Coming from the sevens sphere, the former Blitzbok has the speed and ball skills to wing it, but it’s another “out of the Boks” selection that carries great risk. 

Having been forced to go back to the future due to Marx’s injury, Deon Fourie is another player who will be in the spotlight if he comes on in the second half but I suspect Mbonambi will play the full 80 minutes. 

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Kwagga Smith, 23 Cobus Reinach.