The quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup are here and we have four incredible fixtures to keep us busy this weekend. There is no doubt that the cross-pool clashes between pools A and B are going to be the highlights of the weekend as Ireland face the All Blacks on Saturday and France take on the Bokke on Sunday. This is a defining weekend for the South’s dominance at the tournament and I for one am hoping both the Springboks and the All Blacks progress to the semis.
Rugby and sport in general, has a way of dishing up some incredible moments. All it takes is 80 minutes in this case, for a team to go from hero to zero or vice versa. You can make the right calls on selection, you can have the perfect build up to the test and even have the superior game plan, but come the whistle for kick-off and all the best laid plans can go out of the window.
There is no doubt about the fact that this game is the most important for the Springboks since the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. They are facing off with the host nation, in front of a home crowd and there is simply no denying the class of this French. To complicate matters further, Les Bleus received a timely boost in that captain and talismanic scrumhalf, Antoine Dupont is available for selection. This is going to be a game for the ages.
From the Springbok point of view, there are a few selection headaches to deal with. This is both a blessing and a curse, because it is close to impossible to know which is the right one. Do you start Pollard and Am or do you trust the players who got you this far in the first place? Do you go for a 5/3, 6/2 or 7/1 split? Who starts at 8th man? Which fullback do you choose? Who gets the nod at 9 and 12?
Well, the wait is almost over. The Bokke normally name their side on Tuesdays to end speculation as early as possible. However, we note that they are scheduled by World Rugby to only make the announcement on Friday, whichever day it is, and whomever they select in the 23, they will bear the burden of a whole country as they try to shatter the hopes of the host nation. After much thought and endless debates with Ronnie. Here is the 23 players I would select to do battle against Les Bleus.
1. Steven Kitshoff
2. Bongi Mbonambi
3. Frans Malherbe
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Franco Mostert
6. Siya Kolisi (c)
7. Pieter-Steph Du Toit
8. Duane Vermeulen
9. Faf De Klerk
10. Manie Libbok
11. Kurt-Lee Arendse
12. Damian De Allende
13. Jesse Kriel
14. Cheslin Kolbe
15. Damian Willemse
16. Deon Fourie
17. Ox Nche
18. Trevor Nyakane
19. RG Snyman
20. Marco van Staden
21. Kwagga Smith
22. Cobus Reinach
23. Handre Pollard