The War Room: Springbok loose trio to tame Lions in test series decider

The War Room, with Mark Keohane and Zelim Nel, is zoned in on the Springbok loose trio in Episode 4, who could take on a British & Irish Lions back three in the test series decider if injury befalls the Springbok starting loosies.

Duane Vermeulen, Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph Du Toit were the world’s most powerful and impactful loose trio of 2019, steering the Springbok ship to World Cup victory with Pieter-Steph Du Toit being crowned world player of the year. But the scenario stands that none of these frontrunners are available for selection in a test series decider between the Springboks and British & Irish Lions.

If all three are unavailable, what selection route do the Springboks follow? Do Rassie and Jacques look for like-for-like replacements for the trio? Do we reintroduce the specialist fetcher role, which saw great success when Heinrich Brussow starred at openside flank in the Boks last series win over the Lions in 2009? While Mark and Zelim discuss, the readers also have the option to make their picks on SA Rugby Magazine’s poll.

By voting for your selections, you stand a chance to win a Springbok jersey!

So far readers have voted for their back three, centres and halfbacks come crisis time, but this week sees by far the most options top choose from as we look to the loose forwards. South Africa is a loose forward factory, and the options at openside, blindside and eighthman are many – both locally and playing abroad.

So far the War Room team is as follows: 15. Frans Steyn 14. Sbu Nkosi 13. Jesse Kriel 12. Cornal Hendricks 10. Damian Willemse 9. Herschel Jantjies. The readers’ backline sees a bit of variation: 15. Frans Steyn 14. Cornal Hendricks 13. Jesse Kriel 12. Jan Serfontein 11. Sbu Nkosi 10. Morne Steyn 9. Cobus Reinach.

Vote here for your loose forward combination

Unable to watch? Listen to Episode 4 below

https://soundcloud.com/user-483401664/power-up-bok-loosies-to-tackle-lions