"I would honestly rather they just start Andre at 8 and have Kwagga come off the bench. Maybe Marco [van Staden] will play 8 and Kwagga will be 6 - which is marginally better than the other way around. Either way we have problems. Pack severely lacking in momentum givers. Share I worry for the Springboks. Not often you look at the back row and think they're short of grunt but with Kwagga Smith (at 8) and Franco Mostert (at 7)"
"Back in 1969 the Wallabies lost all four Tests of the series to the Springboks. As a nine year old at the time, from an Eurasian family classified as non-White by the apartheid government of the day, my support went to the Australians. Only one other boy in our private school was rooting for the Wallabies: Adrian Robertson, son of the Australian ambassador to South Africa. If Adrian's out there reading this, I have to say my allegiances have changed,"
Selection and injury issues have left the Springboks' back row thin on natural momentum givers, with key players moved out of position. Jasper Wiese is suspended and multiple flank and No.8 options are on the physio table, prompting a centre, Andre Esterhuizen, to be named on the bench and potentially pack down at flank. Kwagga Smith is starting at eight in a configuration described as light on grunt. Alternatives suggested include starting Andre at eight or using Marco van Staden at eight, but the consensus remains that the pack lacks physical dominance.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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