Former Bok assistant coach Alan Solomons has questioned some of the selections for the second Test against New Zealand in Johannesburg, including the decision to leave Malcolm Marx on the bench.
Originally left out of the matchday-23 entirely, Joseph Dweba was brought into the starting lineup to face New Zealand after Bongi Mbonambi picked up a knock to his knee during a training session on Tuesday afternoon.Marx will keep his place on the bench despite his man of the match performance in the 26-10 victory over the All Blacks at Mbombela Stadium in the opening round of the Rugby Championship.
“Dweba, parachuted into the starting line-up 24 hours after Bongi Mbonambi was named in the run-on XV, is a good player but is not at the same level as Mbonambi and Marx,” wrote Solomons.“Losing Mbonambi is not helpful to the Springbok cause and it may assist the All Blacks. “With Faf de Klerk out with concussion, the spine of South Africa’s side at No 2 and No 9 is not as strong as it was last week.