{"id":963961,"date":"2024-07-02T12:00:22","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T12:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8888\/dm-simulator-v2\/?p=963961"},"modified":"2024-07-02T12:00:22","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T12:00:22","slug":"erasmus-pulls-out-the-big-guns-for-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elections.sabc.co.za\/elections2024\/erasmus-pulls-out-the-big-guns-for-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"Erasmus pulls out the big guns for Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has rolled out the heavy artillery for Saturday’s first test against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.<\/p>\n

The 23-player match-day squad features 20 Rugby World Cup winners.<\/p>\n

The entire starting 15 and five players are on the replacements’ bench.<\/p>\n

The three players in the match-day squad who weren’t part of the squad at last year’s World Cup in France are prop Gerhard Steenekamp, lock Salmaan Moerat and utility back, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.<\/p>\n

They are on the bench with a six-two split in favor of the forwards<\/p>\n

Twelve of the starting 15 for Saturday’s match against the second-best nation in the world, started in last year’s World Cup final, while the other three, Willie le Roux, Kwagga Smith, and Ox Nche came off the bench.<\/p>\n

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Here it is, your #Springboks<\/a> match-23 for the highly-anticipated first Test against Ireland in Pretoria – more here: https:\/\/t.co\/IowLhMqHO3<\/a> #ForeverGreenForeverGold<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/bZoFqXvQuU<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Springboks (@Springboks) July 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n