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<\/p>\nManie Libbok was replaced after just 30 minutes of the semi-final <\/p>\n
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South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber has explained his controversial decision to sub off starting fly half Manie Libbok after just 30 minutes of the Springboks\u2019 comeback Rugby World Cup semi-final win over England.<\/p>\n
Libbok, who had emerged as South Africa\u2019s first-choice No 10 in the lead-up to this tournament, was hooked after following a sliced clearance kick with a knock-on, capping a disastrous start to the game with England in the ascendancy.<\/p>\n
He was replaced by Handre Pollard, a key cog in the 2019 World Cup-winning Springboks side, and the veteran helped engineer a fightback before kicking the winning penalty on 77 minutes to secure a narrow 16-15 triumph and a spot in next Saturday\u2019s final.<\/p>\n
Libbok is the more creative, dynamic fly half, while Pollard is the steadier option with a metronomic boot, and the move seemed to suggest South Africa were surrendering to England\u2019s kick-heavy strategy and would attempt to beat them at their own game.<\/p>\n
In his post-match press conference, Nienaber laid out the reasons behind the decision and was adamant that Libbok would accept why it happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe beauty of this group is that we\u2019re open and honest,\u201d said Nienaber. \u201cBecause we have the right players, the players accept it. <\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes things are not going your way. We\u2019ve done it with numerous others. Bongi [Mbonambi] in 2018, we took him off after 35 minutes. That specific day he wasn\u2019t on fire but then he started the next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the same with [Libbok] \u2013 we took him off early because things didn\u2019t go his way. The main thing is that everything is for the team and they understand that. That\u2019s the beauty of the squad, you\u2019re open and honest and players take it on the chin.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Handre Pollard went on to kick the winning penalty for South Africa <\/p>\n
Nienaber went on to stress that even though an early substitution was not how Libbok would have liked his game to go, he is still an option to start the final against the All Blacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean he won\u2019t start next week but sometimes, unfortunately, it is like that,\u201d added Nienaber. \u201cThat\u2019s how it is. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s for South Africa \u2013 it\u2019s not for the individual or the ego, it\u2019s for South Africa. We get messages from schoolkids and we see every single message they send. It\u2019s for them, we can\u2019t put our egos in front of that, South Africa is more important and the Springboks are more important than anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n