Chance for Rohan as Kriel goes home

Rohan Janse van Rensburg's commanding performance at No 12 against the Barbarians could see him make his Test debut on Saturday. Photo by: Samuel Shivambu

Rohan Janse van Rensburg's commanding performance at No 12 against the Barbarians could see him make his Test debut on Saturday. Photo by: Samuel Shivambu

Published Nov 6, 2016

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Cape Town – Rohan Janse van Rensburg will have a chance to stake a claim for a starting berth in Saturday’s Test against England after Jesse Kriel was ruled out of the tour on Sunday.

Kriel picked up a lower leg injury in Saturday’s 31-31 draw against the Barbarians at Wembley, and was replaced by Ruan Combrinck at fullback in the second half.

Even though the Bulls utility back started at No 15 at the weekend, he was a genuine contender to replace the injured Juan de Jongh at outside centre for the first Test of the tour on Saturday.

The only other specialist outside centre in the squad with Test experience is Lionel Mapoe, who will return from Japanese club rugby, who must be the favourite to start against England.

But Janse van Rensburg’s commanding performance at No 12, on attack in particular, against the Barbarians could see him make his Test debut this weekend after the Springbok management announced on Sunday that he will remain with the squad for the three November Tests as a replacement for Kriel.

The incumbent inside centre, Damian de Allende, has been far from his best in 2016 following an ankle injury sustained in Japan late last year. De Allende was dropped during the Rugby Championship, with De Jongh operating at No 12, but he was brought back for the All Black clash in Durban.

Janse van Rensburg, though, showcased all the qualities that made him one of the stand-outs in the Lions’ charge to the Super Rugby final as he broke the line on a number of occasions in the Baabaas game and often needed more than two defenders to bring him down.

He did make one or two defensive errors, but those are things that can be fixed in training. What also counts in his favour is his familiarity with Lions teammate Mapoe, whose own performances earlier in the Test season were negatively affected by De Allende’s penchant to “truck it up” and hold on to the ball instead of passing.

Cheetahs captain Francois Venter has moved into outside centre in recent months from the inside, and produced a solid display against the Baabaas, but didn’t make quite the same impact as Janse van Rensburg.

Bulls wing Jamba Ulengo, who was impressive on Saturday, has also been asked to remain behind for the Tests as extra cover for Combrinck, JP Pietersen and Willie le Roux.

Combrinck also picked up a lower right leg problem against the Baabaas and is “under review”, while Pietersen and Le Roux have niggles sustained on club duty in England and Japan respectively.

So Springbok coach Allister Coetzee will be hoping that Bryan Habana comes through Sunday’s match for Toulon against Lyon unscathed to avert a wing crisis for the England Test.

Kriel’s absence and doubts about Le Roux is likely to result in Johan Goosen returning at fullback, as Patrick Lambie wasn’t convincing at No 15 against the All Blacks.

But the Bok coach will be glad that he doesn’t have any injury problems among the forwards as he is expecting England to pose a greater challenge upfront compared to the Barbarians.

“You play against the Barbarians, you always get tested. Your defence, they play an exciting brand of rugby, and with the experience of Andy Ellis and a couple of New Zealanders in their team, they were outstanding. We are pleased with our start and hopefully that will help us a lot going forward to the English Test next week,” Coetzee said.

“Every Test match is tough, and if you look at history, there is no easy game in Europe, especially at the end of our season. We are expecting a very tough, physical battle, and a much stronger set-piece battle next week.”

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Overseas-based Boks On Tour

Willem Alberts, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Elton Jantjies, Steven Kitshoff, Willie le Roux, Vincent Koch, Lionel Mapoe, Franco Mostert, JP Petersen, Warren Whiteley.

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