South Africa pick Libbok at fly-half to face France

6 months ago 95

Manie Libbok has excelled with ball in hand but struggled from the kicking tee

Venue: Stade de France, Paris Date: Sunday, 15 October Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, plus text updates on the BBC Sport website and app.

South Africa have picked Manie Libbok at fly-half to face hosts France in their World Cup quarter-final in Paris.

The Springboks' only defeat in France so far came against Ireland when Libbok misfired with the boot, and the reliable Handre Pollard is available again after recovering from injury.

Pollard started the holders' final Pool B game with Tonga, but Libbok has been preferred to face France.

He will be partnered by Cobus Reinach in a surprise call at scrum-half.

Reinach replaces Faf de Klerk for Sunday's match, with head coach Jacques Nienaber saying he is better suited to dealing with the French kicking game.

Nienaber selected seven forwards on the bench for the defeat by Ireland but has opted for a 5-3 split of forwards to backs to face France.

South Africa: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Libbok, Reinach; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Koch, Snyman, Smith, De Klerk, Pollard, Le Roux.

More to follow.

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