Springbok team selected to make Loftus return after 19 months without Test rugby action

Rosko Specman, Aphelele Fassi and Jasper Wiese are in line to make their Springbok debuts on Friday when the Rugby World Cup champions line up against Georgia at Loftus Versfeld in the team’s first Test since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in November 2019.

Former Bulls star Specman, who moved to the Cheetahs at the start of the current season, is no stranger to international rugby with an Olympic Games bronze medal and numerous Blitzbok tournament successes to his name. He will start on the right wing, while Fassi, who has been in hot form for the Cell C Sharks, has been named on the left wing.

Wiese, a former star for the Cheetahs, who has since moved to the Leicester Tigers, has been included on the bench and will earn his first Test cap should he take the field.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, who will guide the Springboks in his first Test as head coach, named 18 Rugby World Cup winners in his matchday squad – 12 of whom featured in their 32-12 final triumph against England.

Six of these 12 players will start against Georgia. They are Bok captain Siya Kolisi and his loose forward partner Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth (lock), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Willie le Roux (fullback) and another former Bulls superstar, Handré Pollard (flyhalf).

The other players who featured in the grand finale of the international extravaganza are Frans Steyn (centre), Franco Mostert (lock), Malcolm Marx (hooker), Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe (both props) and Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalf).

Kolisi will earn his 51^st Test cap after striking his half century in the RWC final, while Pollard, Kitshoff and Kriel will all take a step closer to reaching the significant career milestone of 50 caps. Pollard will earn his 49^th Test cap and Kriel his 47^th, while Kitshoff will earn his 48^th cap if he takes the field.

“We have selected the best team with an eye on what we would like to achieve in this Test against Georgia and we believe that we have a good balance with a number of experienced campaigners and a few young players who have made a strong statement this season,” said Nienaber.

Nienaber remarked that they are also excited to see what the uncapped players bring to the table after impressive performances for their franchises in the last few seasons.

“Each one of them has proved that they deserve an opportunity at this level, and the commitment and enthusiasm they displayed at training has been striking,” he said.

Nienaber was excited to return to the field after a 19-month absence from international rugby and said the physical challenge they would face against Georgia was exactly what they needed to prepare themselves mentally and physically as they look forward to the Castle Lager Lions Series.

Springbok team to face Georgia at Loftus Versfeld:

15. Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 61 caps.
16. Rosko Specman (Cheetahs) – uncapped.
17. Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 46 caps.
18. Frans Steyn (Cheetahs) – 67 caps.
19. Aphelele Fassi (Sharks) – uncapped.
20. Handré Pollard (vice-captain, Montpellier) – 48 caps.
21. Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 14 caps.
22. Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 6 caps.
23. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers) – 55 caps.
24. Siya Kolisi (captain, Sharks) – 50 caps.
25. Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 39 caps.
26. Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 85 caps.
27. Trevor Nyakane (Bulls) – 42 caps.
28. Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers) – 36 caps.
29. Ox Nché (Sharks) – 1 cap.

Replacements

16. Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 33 caps.
17. Steven Kitshoff (Stormers – 47 caps.
18. Frans Malherbe (Stormers – 38 caps.
19. Marvin Orie (Stormers) – 3 caps.
20. Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – uncapped
21. Herschel Jantjies (Stormers) – 10 caps.
22. Elton Jantjies (Pau) – 37 caps.
23. Damian Willemse (Stormers) – 6 caps.