As expected Ruan Cumbrinck, the try-scoring, man of the match debutant in last week’s second test in last week’s comeback win after being introduced at half-time, will make his first test start after being named by Allister Coetzee in the Springboks’ line-up.
Likewise Warren Whitely, who also made such a big impact in the second-half last Saturday and scored the Boks’ second try, replaces the injured Duane Vermeulen from the start, while the French-based Steven Kitshoff looks like covering Tendai Mtawarira off the bench. The demoted Lwazi Movo drops to the bench, where he is joined by Jaco Kriel as back-row cover.
Coetzee described the change on the wings, with JP Pietersen switching to the left flank as he did in the first test, as tactical. “It’s been noted that Ireland kick a lot down that left side and Ruan gives us a right-footed kicking option.”
He has also spoken of trying to “make Ireland come out and play” but asked if this selection might also make Ireland play differently, Coetzee said: “It will be tests across the field. There will be contest and battles and we expect that. This is their last game of the season. They will come hard. This is their chance to clinch the series. There will be something new from the Irish. They have quite a clever coaching team but we are prepared.”
“Ireland might be looking at regaining possession much more than just kicking it deep, going nice and short from the kick off to contest that, and territory again. So we will have to cover the whole field. I also think they will have to have a go more than in the previous two tests and keep ball in hand. It’s going to be true test in itself. They have a new centre combination so they will want to get the ball into Trimble’s hands more. So we have a good feel of that to expect.”
Coetzee believes his team will benefit significantly from the first two tests. “In Cape Town, I was surprised at how the pressure really got to the players. I never really expected that. In the final analysis they were a little nervous, that’s the reality.”
“But it was a lot better in the second test, but this is a side that is building something together that we expect to be hitting their straps after a couple of tests. For the third test you have to be switched on.
We are playing for the series and we would like to start like we finished the last test, with good low body positions in the carries.”
This test is going to be fought in the trenches and we have to be able to go to the trenches again.
South Africa: Willie le Roux; Ruan Cumbrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Damian De Allende, JP Pietersen; Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk; Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss (capt), Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Francois Louw, Siya Kolisi, Warren Whiteley. Replacements - Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Julian Redelinghuys, Franco Mostert, Jaco Kriel, Rudy Paige, Morne Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo.
