Four changes to Bok squad announced
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made four changes to his matchday squad that defeated the All Blacks in the opening test of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.
Damian Willemse, Jesse Kriel and Herschel Jantjies will start against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, kicking off at 7.30pm (SA time) with a live broadcast on SuperSport.
This was announced after Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made four changes to his matchday squad that defeated the All Blacks in the opening test of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.
Willemse, who has 14 test caps, will earn his fourth start in the green and gold when he runs out at fullback, while it will be Jantjies’ third Test in the No 9 jersey as he pairs up with Handré Pollard in the halfback combination.
Kriel, who starts at right wing, will earn his 49th cap in the match.
Willemse comes in for Willie le Roux in a rotational switch, and Jantjies takes over from Faf de Klerk, who was ruled out of the squad because of a hip flexor injury.
Kriel replaces Sbu Nkosi, who is yet to travel to the UK as he awaits the necessary paperwork.
‘We selected this squad with an eye on maintaining consistency in selection from the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, but at the same time giving players who have been knocking on the door for a while now an opportunity to play,’ said Nienaber.
‘Damian and Herschel have featured off the bench a fair bit and this is a fantastic opportunity to give them a chance to start as we look to build our squad depth with an eye on the 2023 Rugby World Cup.’
The matchday squad:
15: Damian Willemse (Stormers) – 14 caps
14: Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 48 caps
13: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks) – 23 caps
12: Damian de Allende (Munster) – 55 caps
11: Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks) – 22 caps
10: Handré Pollard (vice-captain, Montpellier) – 57 caps
9: Herschel Jantjies (Stormers) – 18 caps
8: Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 58 caps
7: Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 16 caps
6: Siya Kolisi (captain, Sharks) – 60 caps
5: Lood de Jager (Sales Sharks) – 53 caps
4: Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 94 caps
3: Trevor Nyakane (Bulls) – 51 caps
2: Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks) – 45 caps
1: Ox Nché (Sharks) – 6 caps
Replacements:
16: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 43 caps
17: Steven Kitshoff (Stormers) – 56 caps
18: Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 28 caps
19: Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 48 caps
20: Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 8 caps
21: Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 18 caps
22: Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) – 41 caps
23: Frans Steyn (Cheetahs) – 71 caps.
