“Quesada Exposes Springboks’ Game Plan Through Halfback Selection Ahead of Port Elizabeth Showdown!” Want more variations?
Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada says the Springboks’ halfback pairing offers a clear indication of how they intend to play in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
After winning the first Test 42-24 at Loftus Versfeld, coach Rassie Erasmus has made sweeping changes for the second, with Grant Williams and Manie Libbok starting at scrumhalf and flyhalf respectively.
When Williams and Libbok play together, like they did against England last year, it indicates that the Boks want to move the ball and use the width of the field,” Quesada said on Thursday. “These two have tremendous speed.”
The Azzurri boss is also expecting a fierce scrum battle, with Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw named in the Springbok starting front row, and Ox Nché, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Asenathi Ntlabakanye primed to make an impact off the bench as part of the Bomb Squad.
The strength of both front rows is incredible,” said Quesada. “In addition to the fact that I think the Boks will play with the ball in hand, I believe they will try to dominate us in the scrums.”
Italy trailed 28-3 at half time of the first Test but outscored the world champions 21-14 in the second.
“We were a bit wide-eyed and hesitant in attack in the first half,” said Quesada. “In the second half the players relaxed and expressed themselves better.
“But that’s last week’s story. We know the second Test is going to be a lot tougher than the first one. A week is a long time in rugby.”
