The Springbok scrum did not fire on all cylinders in the first half of the World Cup opening match against Scotland and even Frans Malherbe conceded a penalty or two.
But after the break they shifted into a higher gear to completely overwhelm the poor Scots. And according to Vincent Koch, the Bok forwards will want to build on this performance.
The 33-year-old front row man will drive the no. 3 jersey for the South Africans when they face Romania in Bordeaux on Sunday.
“We want to play better with every game. As a South African rugby team, our game in the fixed facets is our pride and we want to deliver a stronger performance every week,” he said.
According to Koch, Romania has a good pack of forwards.
“I’m looking forward to the duel. It promises to be a physical match; especially among the forwards. They did well against Ireland, scrumming solidly and even stealing a lineout ball or two. Romania have some great players in their team and they will definitely want to show their scrum language against South Africa.”
Koch will join Ox Nche and Bongi Mbonambi in the Springbok scrum, while Deon Fourie, Steven Kitshoff and Trevor Nyakane are on the substitutes’ bench.
The match starts at 15:00 on Sunday and the action will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Springboks: Willie le Roux (full back), Grant Williams (right wing), Canan Moodie (outside centre), André Esterhuizen (inside centre), Makazole Mapimpi (left wing), Damian Willemse (fly-half), Cobus Reinach (scrum-half), Duane Vermeulen (eighth man), Kwagga Smith (flank), Marco van Staden (flank), Marvin Orie (lock), Jean Kleyn (lock), Vincent Koch (prop), Bongi Mbonambi (captain and hooker) and Ox Nche (prop). Substitutes: Deon Fourie, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, RG Snyman, Jasper Wiese, Jaden Hendrikse, Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel.
Romania: Marius Simionescu (full back), Tevita Manumua (right wing), Jason Tomane (outside centre), Taylor Gontineac (inside centre), Nichola Onutu (left wing), Hinckley Vaovasa (fly-half), Gabriel Rupanu (scrum-half), Cristian Chirica (captain and eighth man), Vlad Neculau (flank), Andre Gorin (flank), Marius Iftimiciuc (lock), Adrian Motoc (lock), Alexandru Gordas (prop), Ovidiu Cojocaru (hook) and Iulian Hartig (prop). Substitutes: Robert Irimescu, Alexandru Savin, Thomas Cretu, Stefan Iancu, Damian Stratila, Cristi Boboc, Alin Conache and Gabriel Pop.
