Ton-up for Siya as Rassie omits Kwagga and Hooker for Les Bleus showdown

The value of depth was on full display when Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus omitted Ethan Hooker and Kwagga Smith from the team to face France in Paris on Saturday.

Both have been outstanding this year — and both were sidelined by the coach because the needs of the team always come first. And it’s not as if their omissions have weakened the team.

Hooker, who introduced himself to the world with a stellar display against the All Blacks in Wellington earlier this year, has barely put a foot wrong. He was magnificent during that record 43-10 win against the old rivals, and his performances have never dipped below “brilliant” since.

But he might never have had that chance had Kurt-Lee Arendse not been injured. Hooker will play many more Tests, but for now, the experience of Arendse, in what will be a frothing atmosphere, won out over Hooker’s youthful brilliance. Arendse started against Japan last week and scored two tries to take his tally to 23 in only 28 Tests.

Smith’s omission is a slight surprise given the energy and effectiveness he usually brings in the final quarter. But Erasmus has opted to have André Esterhuizen on the bench again. He can cover flank or centre, giving the Boks a 6-2 split between forwards, or 5-3, depending on how Esterhuizen is deployed. Or maybe it’s a 5.5-2.5 split…

Erasmus has included two locks — RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje — on the bench, but the latter can also operate at blindside flank.

“Kwagga has a bit of a contusion to his hand, but he could have played,” said Erasmus. “We just felt that with the team France were going to pick, this is the best Bok team for the contest.

“We feel safe in André covering 12 and No 6 for us while Siya [Kolisi] can cover No 8, as can Pieter-Steph du Toit.”

Another selection that raised slight eyebrows was the choice of veteran centre Jesse Kriel over Canan Moodie — one of the stars from Wellington.

Kriel, though, is a proven force, and his combination with Damian de Allende gives the Boks continuity and experience in the midfield.

Erasmus selected Boan Venter to replace the injured Ox Nche at loosehead prop, while Thomas du Toit (tighthead prop) also returns. Malcolm Marx starts at hooker, with Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw the front row cover on the bench.

Eben Etzebeth (lock), Pieter-Steph Du Toit (flanker) and Damian Willemse (fullback) all return to the starting lineup from the team that beat Japan 61-7 at Wembley last week.

Cheslin Kolbe reverts to wing after his outing at fullback last week, while Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are the halfbacks for the fifth time in succession this year. That is unusual in the Erasmus era.

Kolisi milestone

Kolisi will become the ninth Bok to reach a century of Test caps and the second this year after Willie le Roux achieved the milestone against Italy.

It’s a wonderful moment for Kolisi, and Erasmus was full of praise for the skipper. The coach, though, pointed out that the team won’t overdo the emotion because they have a job to do — beat France.

Les Bleus last defeated the Boks in Paris in 2005, and since then, South Africa have won the last four meetings between the sides at Stade de France.

That includes the dramatic 29-28 win over France in the quarterfinal of Rugby World Cup 2023, a match that has left deep scars on the French rugby public.

“Nothing has changed in terms of our preparation,” said Erasmus about celebrating Kolisi’s 100th Test. “The only thing that will be different is when Siya runs out about 10 seconds earlier than the rest of the team.

“We don’t like to make a big thing about it. Afterwards, we will have a little team function and do something proper. This is a huge game, and the entire team knows how determined France will be to make up for the World Cup result.”

Although the coach is right not to make things more emotional than they need to be, it will be a wonderful occasion for Kolisi, especially considering his humble beginnings in life.

From the streets of Zwide to a three-figure Test career is no ordinary tale.

France ‘revenge’?

France coach Fabien Galthié has played down talk of revenge, but no one is fully buying it.

France scrumhalf Maxime Lucu gave it away with his comments this week, which still suggest a deep level of trauma about what transpired two years ago.

“It was a massive defeat for us,” said Lucu. “For us, the French people, it’s really stuck with us. It was our World Cup, and they came and stole it off us. It was such a great game.

“They’re [the Boks] much more than just brutes, though. It’s true they’re unbelievably strong, but they’ve also got a lot of quick and nimble youngsters coming through.

“There’s talent everywhere; they’re a complete side. We can’t wait to take them on. They’re back-to-back world champions. Everything’s set up perfectly for a great game.”

France have named a new halfback pairing with Nolann Le Garrec starting alongside Romain Ntamack, with captain Antoine Dupont still unavailable after a knee ligament injury. Lucu is on the bench.

“We’ve faced them twice since 2020. Once in Marseille in 2022 [a 30-26 win for France] and once in 2023 [a 28-29 defeat]. South Africa is the best team in the world, perhaps even the best that has ever existed,” said Galthié.

“They have the ability to develop their talent pool, they’ve been together since June, and everything is being built for the 2027 World Cup.” DM 

Teams

France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damien Penaud, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Gaël Fickou (captain), 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Nolann le Garrec, 8 Mickaël Guillard, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Régis Montagne, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Baptiste Erdocio.
Reserves: 16 Guillaume Cramont, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Hugo Auradou, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Nicolas Depoortère.

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter.
Reserves: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Ruan Nortje, 21 André Esterhuizen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.