SARugbymag.co.za readers have had their say about the match-day squad Jacques Nienaber selected for first Test against the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town on Saturday.
Before the Bok team announcement on Tuesday, there were doubts over the availability of captain Siya Kolisi and uncertainty over who would start at No 8 in the absence of the injured Duane Vermeulen.
Official confirmation came when Nienaber’s team was unveiled, with Kolisi declared fit to retain the captaincy and Kwagga Smith named as Vermeulen’s replacement at the back of the scrum.
Handre Pollard was named as the vice-captain and will earn his 50th cap in the momentous opening Test.
All in all, 21 players in the latest match 23 featured in the Springboks’ triumphant World Cup campaign in Japan in 2019.
Following a poll run by SARugbymag.co.za asking readers to whether or not they would make any changes to the side, the votes have been cast.
A whopping 61.40% of fans are fairly happy with the team Nienaber decided on, saying while they would have preferred to make one or two changes, the side is pretty good.
In second place, with 24.76% of the votes, is a group of readers that believes the team is decent but there should be several changes.
Those who wholeheartedly agree with Nienaber’s match 23 are only 12.31% of the voters. This group of readers agreed that the selected team is spot on.
A small percentage of readers, around 1.54%, believes the coach completely missed the mark with the lineup for the all-important opening Test.
Photo: Steve Haag
