Rugby World Cup commentators left stunned as South Africa remove star in ‘ruthless’ tactical tweak early on vs England
SOUTH AFRICA stunned commentators with the "ruthless" removal of superstar Manie Libbok after just half an hour into their epic 16-15 World Cup semi-final comeback win against England.
With the Red Rose shocking many with a confident start on the way to a 12-6 interval lead, Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber replaced fly-half Libbok with Handre Pollard.
Surprised ITV commentators were full of sympathy for Libbok over the unusually-early tactical change.
And South Africa also raised eyebrows with more tweaks soon after the break - particularly baffling fans by hauling off skipper Siya Kolisi.
But ex-England fly-half Paul Grayson backed what some fans online called the first "brutal" move by Erasmus.
Grayson told BBC Radio 5 live: "Manie Libbok looked miles off it. He normally kicks brilliantly with both feet.
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"He did not look comfortable out there and South Africa have made an early change.";
England were 9-3 up at the time of the coach's major call - with Libbok taking advantage of Owen Farrell's potty mouth which was penalised by the referee.
Pollard then added to a penalty from the man he replaced, Libbok, to cut the deficit.
But Farrell kicked his fourth penalty on the brink of the break to leave the Red Rose dreaming - ultimately in vain.
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Supporters online were divided over Libbok being taken off.
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Some accused Nienaber of a "knee-jerk reaction, one saying: "This is not the move to make. Manie has not been the issue."
Another took a longer view over the superstar's legacy in the game.
He posted: "Oh that would put a dent on Libbok's career for sure. In a World Cup semi-final too... oh I wouldn’t have done that. At least wait for half-time."
But a rival batch of Boks' fans disagreed.
One argued of the substitution: "That's a good move, he is costing us."
A second said: "Had to be done."
And a frank yet balanced view was: "Brutal but it's entirely fair. Wasn't having a great game at all. Not all his fault."
Faf de Klerk then came on at scrum-half for Cobus Reinach two minutes into the second period.
Then Kolisi and No8 Duane Vermeulen went off - angering a large number of South Africa supporters.
One exploded on X: "Why was Kolisi taken off in the 50th minute??????"
Another wrote: "Captain Kolisi taken off. Done nothing wrong... Ridiculous."
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Farrell's monster drop-goal to put England 15-6 up didn't improve the mood of bemused Boks' supporters.
But Nienaber's change proved a masterstroke as Pollard nailed a 78th-minute 49m penalty to clinch a fortuitous South African victory and book their place in next week's World Cup final against New Zealand.
