LICENCE TO THRILL

THE Springboks’ backline has been given the licence to thrill, but “only when it’s on” in Saturday's 9.05am Rugby Championship Test match against New Zealand at Wellington Regional Stadium.

Looking to turn around a 24-17 loss at Eden Park, South Africa sport a changed backline with attack-minded backs Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse, Ethan Hooker and Aphelele Fassi in the starting lineup.

The Boks needs a win in Wellington to retain the Freedom Cup and also get themselves back into contention for the Rugby Championship title, after suffering their second loss of the tournament.

But inside centre Willemse says that does not mean he and an untested backline combination are going to steek uit wild and try to attack the All Blacks at all costs.   

Willemse wysed: “Expressing yourself is not always about playing flashy rugby. We can expect a very physical and hard Test match. For us, it is about nailing our roles, and if there is an opportunity that presents itself, we want to take it.

“That is what I call expressing yourself.”

It will be the first time that Willemse starts a Test in the No.12 jersey that South Africans have become accustomed to seeing another Damian, De Allende, wear for over a decade.

Willemse, who regularly plays in a similar position for the Stormers, is not phased by stepping into his namesake’s groot boots.

Of knowing how to nail the role, he added: “I haven’t started a Test [at 12] yet, but I have played a couple of Test matches at inside centre later in the game. It’s going to be a new role for me, having to step up into Doogs’ [De Allende] responsibility.

“I am excited about it, especially linking with Sacha and with [Canan] Moodie and the back three outside me. So it’s a chance for us to go out and play our game and hopefully get a victory.”

Meanwhile, Australia will host Argentina at the Sydney Football Stadium at 6am on Saturday in the other fixture.

BOKS: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen

NZ: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ethan de Groot Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Ruben Love