Bok Watch: Players in the Spotlight vs New Zealand at FNB Stadium

Quintin van Jaarsveld identifies five Springbok players who’ll be in the spotlight in the third Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium.

Ox Nche

The scrum has become a toxic subplot in the series, or rather the New Zealanders’ moaning and accusations that the Boks are coming around.

So far, Dave Rennie and his assistant coaches’ ploy to raise a stink and influence the officiating of the set piece, as obvious as it is, has worked.

The Boks have been awarded seven penalties across the first two Tests, six in the first Test at Ellis Park and just one in the second Test in Cape Town.

This is a lower return on the reward of dominance the Boks deserved, and the gall of the Kiwi coaches to keep pushing their agenda has only infuriated the Boks more.

While a tighthead prop can be penalised for coming around, it is more common to see a loosehead get pinged for this offence. Back in the starting XV after winning his 50th Test cap off the bench last weekend, the spotlight will shine brightly on Nche.

Malcolm Marx

Marx was like a man possessed off the pine last weekend. He pounced on the ball like a hungry lion on a piece of meat at the breakdown, winning a string of turnovers.

This was on top of his world-class work in the set pieces, with ball in hand, and when it came to mowing the All Blacks down on defence. It was a statement performance highlighting why he’s the reigning World Player of the Year.

His poaching masterclass, however, means he’ll have a target on his chest this Saturday, with the tourists set to zone in on him with their questionable cleanouts. A true warrior, Marx welcomes the challenge back in the No. 2 jersey.

Cobus Reinach

Reinach was one of the Boks’ unsung heroes at Cape Town Stadium. After Grant Williams flopped in the series opener, Rassie Erasmus turned to his veteran scrumhalf to help steer the Boks through stormy seas, and he did it with aplomb.

The double world champions kicked 35 times, twice as much as the previous week. Fifteen of those kicks were from the base, of which they got the ball back eight times. He was excellent on attack as well, shifting gears like the seasoned game driver he is.

The 36-year-old’s decision-making and execution were top-notch, and the Boks will need him to double up, especially considering the next man’s current struggles.    

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Being a prodigy can be both a blessing and a curse.

Last year, it was Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s world, and we were simply living it in. He lit up every pitch he played on, wowing spectators with his extraordinary athleticism and playmaker prowess.

At 23, he was the best flyhalf in the world by a country mile and produced a performance for the ages when he scored a Springbok record 37 points in the 67-30 win over Argentina in Durban.

What heroics like that do is elevate expectations, often to an unfair and unrealistic degree. This year, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has experienced a failure to launch on the international stage.

He missed the first two months with an ankle injury and has been far below his best in the three Tests he’s played since. Initially named on the bench last week, he was drafted into the starting XV after Handre Pollard was ruled out with a niggle in training, and it was clear that Feinberg-Mngomezulu is not himself.

Aside from one outstanding crosskick to Cheslin Kolbe, which the red-hot winger dribbled and turned into a turnover, the Bok No. 10 had a mare, making elementary errors and missing tackles.

Erasmus has kept the faith in the Bishops product, who’ll be feeling the heat. South Africa need him to come good, and the best way to do so would be to keep things simple.

Kurt-Lee Arendse

Part of last week’s shake-up saw Kolbe recover from his injury niggle to replace Arendse, who’d been named to start but dropped out of the match 23 altogether.

A livewire with a nose for the try line, the feet-footed flyer has delivered every time he’s donned the Green and Gold jersey. He’s scored two tries in the three games he’s played for South Africa this season, against England and Wales, to take his tally to 25 tries in 33 Tests.

So far, the All Blacks have burned the Boks to a crisp on the edges, so Arendse and fellow winger Ethan Hooker will have to be wide awake on defence.