‘Ag, it’s just the way we do things’: Nienaber happy to Bok trend and name XV early

Some rugby pundits questioned the wisdom of a seven/one split as was deployed against the All Blacks in the Boks’ most recent outing.

Head coach Jacques Nienaber unveiled his team earlier than anticipated on Wednesday and broke with World Rugby convention that dictates such announcements be made two days before the game.

“Ag, it’s just the way we do things. We’ve always done it this way,” he said.

“The players knew the team yesterday [on Tuesday] before first training session. It stops speculation but it will come out anyway.

“We’ve always been transparent about it. We’re getting it out of the way so we can focus fully on Scotland.”

That focus also dictates they select players who are in the tiptop range of physical wellbeing. It is for that reason Canan Moodie has had to yield to a hamstring injury, thus breaking the stunning momentum he has built in the Bok jersey.

Moodie, who had shown stunning form this season on the right wing and more recently at outside centre, picked up the niggle in C