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Boks hooker Bongi Mbonambi is out for Saturday’s test against the All Blacks after being named to start.
The Springboks have been forced into a late front-row reshuffle ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Championship test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park after starting hooker Bongi Mbonambi wet down with a knee injury suffered at Tuesday training.
South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber has called inexperienced Stormers hooker Joseph Dweba to start just his third test. His only previous international experience was against Wales in Bloemfontein in July and Argentina last year in Nelson Mandela Bay – both times in the run-on XV.
The Boks coach has resisted the urge to return veteran rake Malcolm Marx to starting duty, after he did so last weekend against the All Blacks in Mbombela to mark his 50th test appearance – a match won 26-10 by the South Africans.
The 26-year-old will pack down alongside his former Cheetahs team-mate Ox Nche. The pair progressed through SA Rugby’s national development system, and played together for the Junior Springboks and national schools team.
”Joseph has been working hard at training and he’s been waiting patiently for his chance, and we feel that it doesn’t get better than facing the All Blacks, who are one of the best teams in the world,” said Nienaber.
”He and Ox have played close to 100 first-class games together, and they know each other well on and off the field, having played together since school level. They progressed through the SA Rugby junior rugby ranks together before forming a strong combination at the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and Pro14 competitions, and we believe their familiarity will give us the best chance in this match.”
The Boks coach confirmed he was taking no chances with Mbonambi after he took a knock to his knee at Tuesday training with so much international rugby still to come in 2022. He was to get scans, though it was not thought to be a serious injury.
“We have an important Rugby Championship tour coming up and a year-end tour later, so we don’t want to take any risks with Bongi,” he said.
For the beleaguered All Blacks it’s a minor break, with Dweba lacking the high-end pedigree of Mbonambi. But one thing the South Africans have proven in 2022 is that they have spectacular depth in their playing resources.
Ian Foster’s men will be wise to expect business as usual from the Boks up front. The New Zealanders will name their lineup for the second Rugby Championship test on Thursday night (NZT).
SPRINGBOKS: Damian Willemse, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Jaden Hendrikse; Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Joseph Dweba, Ox Nche. Reservations: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Jasper Wiese, Kwagga Smith, Hershel Jantjies, Willie le Roux.