The Springboks have made 15 changes from their 23-man squad that faced Italy last weekend, with an almost completely changed starting team for the rematch this coming Saturday.
Plenty of players have been rested as head coach Rassie Erasmus prepares various different combinations for the second match of their summer test period
Here are the winners and losers from this week’s team announcement:
Winners
Willie Le Roux
The highly experienced fullback will make his 100th test appearance for the Springboks on Saturday. Having first debuted during the South African Quadrangular tournament of 2013 against Italy, Scotland and Samoa, Le Roux has gone on to become one of the most celebrated fullbacks of his generation.
Edwill van der Merwe
The 29-year-old will finally get his second cap after a try-scoring debut against Wales last year. Injury has kept the Lions speedster out of contention for the green and gold jersey since, but his opportunity to start on the wing in a back three alongside Willie Le Roux and Makazole Mapimpi will not be taken for granted.
Debutants
Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ethan Hooker and Cobus Wiese will all make their debut for the Springboks on Saturday, with the latter hoping to take to the field alongside his brother, Jasper Wiese. The former Sale Sharks player will have to wait for his chance off the bench, as the giant lock forms a new-look bomb squad.
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Ruled out with injury in November, the World Player of the Year has not touched a rugby ball in a competitive match since. Following shoulder surgery, this match against Italy will mark his return as he looks to regain the form that made him such a destructive presence previously. He will form a formidable loose forward trio with Jasper Wiese and Marco Van Staden as the Springboks look to put together a more comprehensive victory over Italy than was achieved last week.
Grant Williams
Despite not playing since returning from injury, Williams has found himself starting at scrum half for the Springboks, indicating the credit in the bank that he holds with Rassie. He will have to hit the ground running, however, particularly after his rival playmaker Morne van den Berg put in such an impressive display last week.
Bomb squad strugglers
RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch all miss out completely after being dominated by a strong Italian replacement pack last week. The normally deadly bomb squad were humiliated in no uncertain terms last week when their arrival from the bench early into the second half signalled the end of the Springboks’ forward domination. Such has been the loss of confidence in the bomb squad, Rassie has decided to drop five of its members from the squad completely as they lick their wounds.
Boan Venter and Siya Kolisi
The only players left yet to play for the Springboks this summer, with both stars still missing from the lineup despite Rassie making wholesale changes. Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is reportedly still nursing a recent neck injury, which he sustained prior to their victory over the Barbarians, while Scottish-qualified Boan Venter still remains without a cap, despite seemingly committing his international future to the Springboks.
Jean-Luc du Preez
During his last Springboks appearance, against the Barbarians, he was removed from the field after 38 minutes with a HIA. His absence from the lineup has suggested that he is being rested as a result, otherwise, it’s an interesting selection, with Evan Roos having been selected on the bench, despite Du Preez being able to cover the entire back-five.
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