Bok boss: Arendse straight swap for Kolbe

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Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber says Kurt-Lee Arendse has “a lot of similarities” to Cheslin Kolbe after selecting the pocket rocket to face the All Blacks on Saturday.

Arendse will earn his second Test cap at right wing in place of Kolbe – who is recovering from a broken jaw – in Nelspruit in the opening clash of the 2022 Rugby Championship.

“Kurt-Lee performed well in the second Test and there are a lot of similarities when you look at his game and Cheslin’s,” Nienaber said.

“We’ve got a like-for-like replacement there, but we’re also rewarding performance. I think he played very well in the Wales Test.”

Arendse, who made his Test debut after an impressive Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign for the Vodacom Bulls at fullback, put in an heroic defensive shift for 80 minutes in Bloemfontein as Wales stunned the world champions for a first win in SA.

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ICYMI – Cut and paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

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Devin Hermanus