Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber surprised by naming Canan Moodie in the midfield for their final World Cup warm-up match against the All Blacks at a sold out Twickenham stadium in London on Friday night.
While many may have thought the Boks would go for their full-strength side against the All Blacks, the Boks opted for possibly their strongest forward pack, while giving some members of the squad in the backline a chance to stake a final claim for places ahead of their opening World Cup game against Scotland on September 10.
Moodie’s name stands out in the midfield - partly because he hasn’t played there at senior level and last played at school for Boland Landbou but the Boks know they are a bit thin in the midfield following the injury to Lukhanyo Am and see this as the ideal opportunity to try something different.
Perhaps the decision to take this risk was amplified by the fact that Moodie has been in sensational form, scoring a brace against Wales and being named man of the match in the Boks last two tests as well.
It certainly has made it difficult to leave him out of a match-day squad and with the riches the Boks have at wing, it may have been felt that this is the right time to try the experiment, before they get to the World Cup.
Of course, there is no bigger cauldron than 80 000 fans and facing the All Blacks and Moodie will certainly be tested on the night.
But the 20-year old has passed all tests thus far with flying colours and the Boks feel confident enough that he will come through this test the same way he has faced all the others.
Next to him will be another Bok star intent on making a massive impression in Andre Esterhuizen. Esterhuizen has been exceptional all season for the Springboks and is certainly challenging Damian de Allende for the starting spot in the opening game, and another big performance will go a long way to changing the management team’s minds on this matter.
The back three also offers a chance to impress the coaches as Damian Willemse steps out of his bench role to take up the fullback position, and Kurt-Lee Arendse, who has a sensational record of 10 tries in nine tests gets a role with Makazole Mapimpi also out to remind people of his class.
Manie Libbok will get another game in the saddle at 10, this time alongside Faf de Klerk, with the latter being the back-up in terms of goal-kicking along with Willemse.
Siya Kolisi returns for a second start in as many weeks as he leads the team into battle with Duane Vermeulen and Pieter-Steph du Toit - one of the stars of Cardiff alongside him.
Franco Mostert takes the five lock role alongside Eben Etzebeth while the demolition crew of Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx and Steven Kitshoff line up up front.
The bomb squad has a new look about it, with RG Snyman and his Munster partner Jean Kleyn joining forces with Marco van Staden - the only loose forward on the bench. The front row of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Trevor Nyakane make it a solid, and impactful bench for the Boks to call on when needed.
Cobus Reinach’s good form against Argentina gets him the nod on the bench while Willie le Roux fills the versatile backline player role that normally goes to Willemse.
The Boks will be using the last run to hone their squad ahead of the Scotland game, but any game against the old enemy in the All Blacks will never be anything like a training run with the intensity factor set to be sky high.
Springboks to face New Zealand: Damian Willemse; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Manie Libbok, Faf de Klerk; Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Cobus Reinach, Willie le Roux.
