JOHANNESBURG: South Africa will start with hooker Joseph Dweba in Saturday’s second game of Rugby Championship against New Zealand after Bongi Mbonambi withdrew from Tuesday’s named team with a knee injury sustained in training.
The severity of the injury is not yet known, but Springbok manager Jacques Nienaber says they have decided to call up Dweba for his third friendly rather than wait for the result of the scans.
Nienaber has resisted the temptation to include Malcolm Marx, who was man of the match in last weekend’s 26-10 win over the All Blacks in Nelspruit, from the start and he remains among the substitutes.
“Joseph has worked hard in training and patiently awaited his chance and we believe there is nothing better than going up against the All Blacks, who are one of the best teams in the world,” Nienaber said in a media report following the release from South Africa Rugby.
Team: 15-Damian Willemse, 14-Jesse Kriel, 13-Lukhanyo Am, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Makazole Mapimpi, 10-Handre Pollard, 9-Jaden Hendrikse, 8-Duane Vermeulen, 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit , 6-Siya Kolisi (Captain), 5-Lood de Jager, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Frans Malherbe, 2-Joseph Dweba, 1-Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 – Malcolm Marx, 17 – Steven Kitshoff, 18 – Vincent Koch, 19 – Franco Mostert, 20 – Jasper Wiese, 21 – Kwagga Smith, 22 – Hershel Jantjies, 23 – Willie le Roux.