Duane Vermeulen will make his first appearance for the Springboks since the 2019 Rugby World Cup final when South Africa resume their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign on Sunday against Australia in the CBUS Super Stadium in the Gold Coast suburb of Robina, Queensland.

The experienced No 8 – who joined the Springbok squad at the start of the Castle Lager Lions Series in August but has yet to play a match – has recovered fully from the ankle surgery he had earlier this year and headlines the return of a handful of injured players for the important encounter.

Scrumhalves Faf de Klerk (leg strain) and Herschel Jantjies (hip pointer), and flank Marco van Staden (ankle) are also back from injury as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made 13 changes to his matchday squad for the match – seven in the starting lineup and six on the replacements bench.

Five of the changes to the starting team that defeated Argentina 29-10 in the second round of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay were amongst the forwards. Vermeulen takes over from Jasper Wiese at the back of the scrum, and Eben Etzebeth comes in for Marvin Orie at lock, while a new front row of Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe (both props) and Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) will be in action.

The two changes in the backline are on the right wing, where Sbu Nkosi replaces Cheslin Kolbe who took a knock to the leg at training, and scrumhalf, where De Klerk returns for the first time since the second Test against the British & Irish Lions in place of Cobus Reinach.

Malcolm Marx (hooker), Ox Nché, Vincent Koch (both props), Van Staden, Wiese and Jantjies, meanwhile, will join Damian Willemse (utility back) and Kwagga Smith (loose forward) on a powerful replacements bench, which features a six-two split of forwards.

Nienaber was pleased to have a handful of players back from injury as the Springboks embark on a challenging four week stretch to defend their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title, with back-to-back Tests against Australia before successive encounters against New Zealand.

“We have been following the progress of the injured players on a daily basis, so we knew that we would be in a position to select most of them for this match. Unfortunately, we lost Cheslin to injury, but we are fortunate to have Sbu who steps in. He’s been working hard at training and he is eager to get back on the field,” said Nienaber.”

With the Springboks’ last Test being close to three weeks ago, Nienaber said it was important for the team to hit the ground running against Australia to maintain the momentum they’ve built up this season.

Luke Pearce (England) has been appointed the match referee, with Australia’s Damon Murphy and Jordan Way serving as assistant referees, and England’s Matthew Carley will be the TMO.

Springbok team to face Australia in Gold Coast:

15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 66 caps, 60 pts (12t)

14 – Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks) – 12 caps, 40 pts (8t)

13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 19 caps, 20 pts (4t)

12 – Damian de Allende (Munster) – 51 caps, 30 pts (6t)

11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 18 caps, 80 pts (16t)

10 – Handré Pollard (vice-captain, Montpellier) – 53 caps, 521 pts (6t, 82c, 105p, 4d)

9 – Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks) – 32 caps, 25 pts (5t)

8 – Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls) – 53 caps, 15 pts (3t)

7 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 44 caps, 5pts (1t)

6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 56 caps, 30 pts (6t)

5 – Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 50 caps, 25 pts (5t)

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 90 caps, 15 pts (3t)

3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 43 caps, 5pts (1t)

2 – Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers) – 41 caps, 40 pts (8t)

1 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 52 caps, 5pts (1t)

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 39 caps, 35 pts (7t)

17 – Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks) – 4 caps, 0 pts

18 – Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 24 caps, 0 pts

19 – Marco van Staden (Leicester Tigers) – 6 caps, 0 pts

20 – Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 12 caps, 5 pts (1t)

21 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 5 caps, 0 pts

22 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 14 caps, 25 pts (5t)

23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 12 caps, 5pts (1t)

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