Barberton’s S’busiso Nkosi replaces Cheslin Kolbe in Springbok team
The speedy winger has scored eight tries in ten Test matches.
Exciting young wing, S’busiso Romeo Nkosi has been drafted into the Springbok starting line-up for Sunday’s gripping Rugby World Cup semi-final against Wales at the Yokohama International Stadium, Lowvelder reports.
Nkosi is a Lowvelder, born and bred in Barberton.
He attended Laerskool Barberton and then Hoërskool Barberton until grade 10. He spent his final two years of high school at Jeppe in Johannesburg.
In 2012 Nkosi represented the u/16 Pumas team at the Grant Khomo Week in three matches. In 2013 and 2014 he played for the Golden Lions at Craven Week.
The 1,81-metre tall, 97 kilogram Barbertonian replaces Cheslin Kolbe, who has not recovered sufficiently from the ankle injury he suffered against Canada and aggravated in the quarter-final victory over Japan in Tokyo last Sunday.
The 23-year-old Lowvelder, who has scored eight tries in his 10 test appearances, slots into the right wing position as a direct replacement for Kolbe.
“It’s disappointing not to have Cheslin available, as he has been brilliant for us since we first called him up last year,” said Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s director of rugby, at the media conference at the team hotel yesterday.
“But we really rate S’bu, and he will slot straight in. I am as excited to see what he can do as I would be if Chessie were playing. S’bu has been very close to selection as it is.”
Nkosi has made two appearances in the tournament on the left wing, against Namibia and against Canada, a match in which he scored a try.
His inclusion is the only change to the 23 who were entrusted to ensure second place, and to secure a semi-final place.
Former Laerskool and Hoërskool Nelspruit pupil, Duane Vermeulen, retains his place at number 8. He represented Mpumalanga at the 2004 and 2005 Craven Weeks and played 26 matches for the senior Pumas team in 2006 and 2007.
Faf de Klerk will kick in at scrum half again. The number 9 attended Laerskool Bergland before attending Hoërskool Waterkloof in Pretoria.
Prop, Vincent Koch, who made the Lowveld his home from 2012 to 2016 when he played 51 matches for the Phakisa Pumas, is on the bench.
The referee is Jérôme Garcès of France.
This will be his 15th Test match as a referee with South Africa involved and his 57th Test match in his career.
The assistant referees are Wayne Barnes of England and Ben O’Keeffe of New Zealand while Ben Skeen, also from New Zealand, will be the TMO.
South Africa vs Wales
South Africa
15. Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz, Japan), 59 caps – 60 points (12 tries)
14. Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), 10 – 40 (8t)
13. Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), 13 – 15 (3t)
12. Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), 45 – 25 (5t)
11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), 12 – 65 (13t)
10. Handré Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), 46 – 421 (6t, 71c, 79p, 4d)
9. Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), 28 – 20 (4t)
8. Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls), 52 – 15 (3t)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 53 – 25 (5t)
6. Siya Kolisi (captain, DHL Stormers), 48 – 30 (6t)
5. Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls) 43 – 25 (5t)
4. Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), 83 – 15 (3t)
3. Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), 36 – 5 (1t)
2. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 34 – 35 (7t)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 115 – 10 (2t)
Replacements:
16. Malcolm Marx (Emirates Lions), 31 – 25 (5t)
17. Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), 45 – 5 (1t)
18. Vincent Koch (Saracens, England) 19 – 0
19. RG Snyman (Vodacom Bulls), 21 – 5 (1t)
20. Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), 37 – 5 (1t)
21. Francois Louw (Bath, England), 74 – 50 (10t)
22. Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), 9 – 20 (4t)
23. Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France), 65 – 141 (11t, 7c, 21p, 3d)
Wales
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. George North
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Hadleigh Parkes
11. Josh Adams
10 Dan Biggar
9. Gareth Davies
8. Ross Moriarty
7. Justin Tipuric
6. Aaron Wainwright
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Captain)
4. Jake Ball
3. Tomas Francis
2. Ken Owens
1. Wyn Jones
Replacements
16. Elliot Dee
17. Rhys Carre
18. Dillon Lewis
19. Adam Beard
20. Aaron Shingler
21. Tomos Williams
22. Rhys Patchell
23. Owen Watkin
History SA vs Wales
Wales and South Africa have played 35 Test matches since 1906 of which 21 were played in Wales, 10 in South Africa and four on neutral ground. Of the 35 Tests South Africa have won 28, lost 6 with one Test drawn, for a win percentage of 80.
Two of those Tests were played at Rugby World Cups: In 2011 South Africa won the pool match in Wellington by the narrowest of margins by 17-16; in 2015 Wales and South Africa met in the quarter-final match at Twickenham for another close encounter, won by the Springboks, 23-19.
Team match records against Wales
• Most points – 96
• Most tries – 15
• Most conversions – 9
• Most penalty goals – 5 (on four occasions)
• Most drop goals – 1 (on three occasions)
Individual match records against Wales
• Most points – 31 – Percy Montgomery.
• Most tries – 3 – Joost van der Westhuizen and Pieter Rossouw.
• Most conversions – 9 – Percy Montgomery.
• Most penalty goals – 5 – Butch James, Morné Steyn and Handré Pollard.
• Most drop goals – 1 – Hansie Brewis, Lionel Wilson and Handré Pollard.
Test stats
• The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 677.
• There are 213 caps in the back line with 464 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 301 caps.
• The average caps per player in the back line is 30, the forwards 58 while the players on the bench average 38.
Record watch
Handré Pollard needs two tries to equal the career record of eight tries as a fly half held by Morné Steyn. He also needs three penalty goals to equal Percy Montgomery’s 10 career penalty goals against Wales.
Furthermore, he needs one drop goal to become the sole record holder for most career drop goals against Wales. Currently, he shares the record with Hansie Brewis and Lionel Wilson.
