Mike Greenaway
MANIE Libbok is set to marshal a Springbok backline that will include the uncapped Morne van den Berg in the Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Libbok got zero game time in the series against Ireland as coach Rassie Erasmus gave Handre Pollard plenty of opportunity to get up to speed after a long break, while the coach also had a good look at Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Apart from a debut for scrumhalf Van den Berg, Erasmus will give several stalwarts a run. The likes of Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am and Andre Esterhuizen will start and there will be roles for Cobus Reinach and Aphelele Fassi.
Lions flyer Edwill van der Merwe is in line for a second cap as one of the starting wings. It appears that Sharks flyhalf Siya Masuku and his teammate Ethan Hooker will have to wait longer for their debuts.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu will also be involved after playing off the bench at flyhalf against Wales and playing most of the second Test against Ireland at fullback for concussed Willie le Roux.
Among the forwards, there are likely to be debuts for Sharks No 8 Phepsi Buthelezi and Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar while front row forwards Andre-Hugo Venter and Jan-Hendrik Wessels will earn their first caps off the bench.
Coach Rassie Erasmus said the impact that Feinberg-Mngomezulu made in the series against Ireland provides inspiration for the newcomers who will be involved against Portugal.
“Sacha had to play almost the whole game at fullback and he didn’t look out of place while showing us that he can bring something different to the table,” Erasmus said on Saturday evening.
“Against Portugal, we will field a completely different team and we hope those guys will do what Sacha did today. The guys who played this game will help prepare the playing team in Bloemfontein until Wednesday and will then take a 10-day break.”