Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said Malcolm Marx starting ahead of Bongi Mbonambi for Saturday's first Test against New Zealand in Mbombela was partly based on squad rotation.Marx has excelled as a finisher for the Springboks, with his last start in the number two jersey coming against Argentina in Gqeberha last year.The 28-year-old has generally averaged around 30 minutes per game since being the impact specialist.Nienaber said it was always nice for them to give players a start on their milestone matches, but that also needs to be balanced with the needs of the team.Several Bok players have crossed milestone matches in the past two years and all of them have done so as starters."If it is possible, we always want to make it special for players for them to start when they play in milestone matches," Nienaber said."It's not to say we won't rotate them, as we've done in the past.
In a specific game, it's always nice when a guy achieves a milestone game.15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Trevor NyakaneSubstitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Willie le Roux"It may suit a player to start or come off the bench, but when you look at the front rows we have, they operate as a unit."They've got specific roles that they need to fulfil and we're comfortable that Malcolm can fulfil his role as a starter, with Bongi coming off the bench."Marx's start will see New Zealand's lineout also being