Boks laugh at Libbok criticism as master coach recalls big guns for must-win TRC clash

He might have missed a match-winning penalty against Los Pumas last week but that hasn’t stopped Rassie Erasmus from picking Manie Libbok to wear the No.10 jersey in their Rugby Championship decider against Argentina in Mbombela this weekend.

In the absence of the injured Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Libbok made his return via the bench during the 29-28 loss to Argentina last weekend as he came on late for Handre Pollard.

But it was far from a happy return for the prodigious 27-year-old talent, who missed a penalty in the final seconds that would have seen the Springboks keep their unbeaten Rugby Championship campaign alive.

The simple miss once again turned the spotlight on the Stormers playmaker, who burst onto the scene against the Wallabies in Pretoria last year and wore the No.10 jersey for the majority of last year’s World Cup.

But the longer the season went, the more he wobbled.

After missing crucial kicks in their pool loss to Ireland in Paris, Libbok was brutally pulled late in the first half against England as Owen Farrell completely outplayed his opposite number.

The introduction of Pollard steadied the ship, with the World Cup winner showing his class and experience by leading the Springboks to victory before returning to the No.10 jersey for their nail-biting 12-11 win over the All Blacks in the final. But Pollard’s return saw Libbok cast on the outer.

Rather than throwing Libbok to the scrapheap, Rassie Erasmus has turned to the playmaker for the weekend’s must-win clash against Los Pumas.

“In the team, we had a little laugh at some of the memes that have been going around,” Erasmus said.

“We see it as people who haven’t gone through that, haven’t felt that kind of pressure and don’t know how tough it is. We totally understand that people will criticise him and he takes it on the chin.

“We all, as the management and the coaching staff, take it on the chin. But the only way to get a guy like him through this is to get back on the horse and ride it until it is flat again.

“We have made some plans on the way we want to play and Manie’s role at 10 this week, and we have made some plans around goalkicking which will help people out.”

Erasmus, who said he had no issues with his team copping criticism when they often receive plaudits, explained that he always planned on starting Libbok in the clash, recognising the need to keep his squad fresh after a taxing week to South America.

“Yes, I understand that Manie gets a lot of criticism. He understands that. All of us, coaches, players, hookers, referees, all of us have gone through a lot when you make a mistake,” the two-time World Cup-winning mentor said.

“People think it’s all your fault. We are a bit more tense, because we think there were two tries we missed before Manie’s shot, which were easier than Manie’s shot.

“Manie is not chosen just because of the shot. That’s why we made plans around it, which will hopefully work on Saturday. And the way he plays, the way we think the Argentinians can play – the level that they are trying to play out. We understand 100 per cent how people feel and it’s our job to get it right, to help, and we’re doing it.

“I have to say, Manie never really lost a cup for us. You know, we didn’t lose the World Cup because of Manie. We didn’t lose the Freedom Cup because of Manie. We work around it and make sure it doesn’t become a crisis. What he brought to us is a natural game. And… Look what he did to Scotland in the World Cup. It was a tight game and then he did this no-look kick to the winner to help us win.”

Erasmus has overhauled his side, recalling some of his biggest and best players for the contest.

There are 18 World Cup winners in the matchday squad, with sweeping changes right across the side including five changes to the pack, a new halves pairing and the return of Damian de Allende at inside centre.

In particular, the Springboks are buoyed by the return of Frans Malherbe at tight-head prop and Eben Etzebeth in the second-row. Etzebeth will become the nation’s most capped player, surpassing Victor Matfield’s record.

“As a former Springbok I can attest to what a massive achievement it will be for Eben to become the most capped Springbok ever, and we are all very proud of him and want to make this a special and memorable occasion for him,” Erasmus said.

“If we can win the title and finish the competition off with a victory it would be a massive occasion for the team and Eben as an individual, and we’ll give everything to make this a special day for him.”

Siya Kolisi and and Pieter-Steph du Toit provide quality and experience in the back-row.

Jaden Hendrikse will also partner Libbok in the halves.

Cheslin Kolbe, the pocket rocket winger who has once again turned heads throughout the campaign with his ability to reinvent the role of a winger, returns to partner Kurt-Lee Arendse and Aphelele Fassi in a lethal back three.

“We planned to recall the players we rested last week because it allowed us to ensure that we have a group of core players who remained in the South African time zone and who would slot back into the team with ease,” said Erasmus.

“They will not only bring fresh legs and vast experience to the team, it also allows us to select a settled team that played most of the matches in the Castle Lager incoming series.

“The match-23 also includes 19 Rugby World Cup winners, which will bode well for the team, while the other players selected have performed under immense pressure in the competition this season and they all deserve their places in the squad.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge against an Argentinean team that has something special brewing in their set-up and who will give everything to win their first title in the competition, and we selected this team with that in mind.”

He might have missed a match-winning penalty against Los Pumas last week but that hasn’t stopped Rassie Erasmus from picking Manie Libbok to wear the No.10 jersey in their Rugby Championship decider against Argentina in Mbombela this weekend.

In the absence of the injured Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Libbok made his return via the bench during the 29-28 loss to Argentina last weekend as he came on late for Handre Pollard.

But it was far from a happy return for the prodigious 27-year-old talent, who missed a penalty in the final seconds that would have seen the Springboks keep their unbeaten Rugby Championship campaign alive.

The simple miss once again turned the spotlight on the Stormers playmaker, who burst onto the scene against the Wallabies in Pretoria last year and wore the No.10 jersey for the majority of last year’s World Cup.

But the longer the season went, the more he wobbled.

After missing crucial kicks in their pool loss to Ireland in Paris, Libbok was brutally pulled late in the first half against England as Owen Farrell completely outplayed his opposite number.

The introduction of Pollard steadied the ship, with the World Cup winner showing his class and experience by leading the Springboks to victory before returning to the No.10 jersey for their nail-biting 12-11 win over the All Blacks in the final. But Pollard’s return saw Libbok cast on the outer.

Rather than throwing Libbok to the scrapheap, Rassie Erasmus has turned to the playmaker for the weekend’s must-win clash against Los Pumas.

“In the team, we had a little laugh at some of the memes that have been going around,” Erasmus said.

“We see it as people who haven’t gone through that, haven’t felt that kind of pressure and don’t know how tough it is. We totally understand that people will criticise him and he takes it on the chin.

“We all, as the management and the coaching staff, take it on the chin. But the only way to get a guy like him through this is to get back on the horse and ride it until it is flat again.

“We have made some plans on the way we want to play and Manie’s role at 10 this week, and we have made some plans around goalkicking which will help people out.”

Erasmus, who said he had no issues with his team copping criticism when they often receive plaudits, explained that he always planned on starting Libbok in the clash, recognising the need to keep his squad fresh after a taxing week to South America.

“Yes, I understand that Manie gets a lot of criticism. He understands that. All of us, coaches, players, hookers, referees, all of us have gone through a lot when you make a mistake,” the two-time World Cup-winning mentor said.

“People think it’s all your fault. We are a bit more tense, because we think there were two tries we missed before Manie’s shot, which were easier than Manie’s shot.

“Manie is not chosen just because of the shot. That’s why we made plans around it, which will hopefully work on Saturday. And the way he plays, the way we think the Argentinians can play – the level that they are trying to play out. We understand 100 per cent how people feel and it’s our job to get it right, to help, and we’re doing it.

“I have to say, Manie never really lost a cup for us. You know, we didn’t lose the World Cup because of Manie. We didn’t lose the Freedom Cup because of Manie. We work around it and make sure it doesn’t become a crisis. What he brought to us is a natural game. And… Look what he did to Scotland in the World Cup. It was a tight game and then he did this no-look kick to the winner to help us win.”

Erasmus has overhauled his side, recalling some of his biggest and best players for the contest.

There are 18 World Cup winners in the matchday squad, with sweeping changes right across the side including five changes to the pack, a new halves pairing and the return of Damian de Allende at inside centre.

In particular, the Springboks are buoyed by the return of Frans Malherbe at tight-head prop and Eben Etzebeth in the second-row. Etzebeth will become the nation’s most capped player, surpassing Victor Matfield’s record.

“As a former Springbok I can attest to what a massive achievement it will be for Eben to become the most capped Springbok ever, and we are all very proud of him and want to make this a special and memorable occasion for him,” Erasmus said.

“If we can win the title and finish the competition off with a victory it would be a massive occasion for the team and Eben as an individual, and we’ll give everything to make this a special day for him.”

Siya Kolisi and and Pieter-Steph du Toit provide quality and experience in the back-row.

Jaden Hendrikse will also partner Libbok in the halves.

Cheslin Kolbe, the pocket rocket winger who has once again turned heads throughout the campaign with his ability to reinvent the role of a winger, returns to partner Kurt-Lee Arendse and Aphelele Fassi in a lethal back three.

“We planned to recall the players we rested last week because it allowed us to ensure that we have a group of core players who remained in the South African time zone and who would slot back into the team with ease,” said Erasmus.

“They will not only bring fresh legs and vast experience to the team, it also allows us to select a settled team that played most of the matches in the Castle Lager incoming series.

“The match-23 also includes 19 Rugby World Cup winners, which will bode well for the team, while the other players selected have performed under immense pressure in the competition this season and they all deserve their places in the squad.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge against an Argentinean team that has something special brewing in their set-up and who will give everything to win their first title in the competition, and we selected this team with that in mind.”

Springboks (15-1): Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Jaden Hendrikse; Jasper Wiese, Peter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (c), Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche.

Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am.