NEWS: Frans Malherbe gives up starting spot for Vincent Koch’s Springbok milestone

In a rare insight into the elite Front Row Club, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus revealed a selfless moment between two of his props.

Malherbe was originally picked to start against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, with fellow tighthead Koch set to come off the bench.

However, when Malherbe heard that it was Koch’s 50th game, he offered up his starting position.

Speaking to the media scrum on Tuesday, Erasmus revealed more.

“We announced the team with Frans at tighthead,” said the World Cup-winning coach.

“Five minutes later one of the players came to me and said it was Vincent’s 50th game. When Franna heard that, he said: ‘No ways’. A guy that works so hard and got so few chances to start and it is in your hands, the two players are so similar.

“He also plays with guys that he knows. He and Malcolm [Marx] normally go on together. So it is now a combination, but it wouldn’t have been a combination if it wasn’t for his 50th.

“That is how much it means to the players. We don’t want a player to come off the bench when it is his 50th game. Especially when there is very little to choose between him and Frans.”

Stronger Together indeed!