Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will give Embrose Papier, the URC Player of the Year, his first start for the national side in eight years, while experimenting with several changes ahead of their second Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Only five of the Springbok rugby side that beat England at Ellis Park will take the field at Loftus this weekend, with Damian Willemse moving to the midfield in another interesting switch.
While it was always expected that there would be massive changes, and Erasmus had told the players that they would be playing two weeks back, the Monday announcement was still interesting. Erasmus has backed a number of the Bulls players in the squad to perform on their home ground, and they will drive the narrative for the test.
This week, only captain Pieter-Steph du Toit, Willemse and Jesse Kriel, flanker Paul de Villiers and lock Ruan Nortje survive from the 45-21 win over the English.
But while normally these sorts of changes would raise eyebrows, the Boks have always stated they wanted a win in the opening game to get momentum before giving a number of the wider squad players some game time.
Last season it showed that there is virtually no difference in the intensity and performance between the two sides, and Erasmus has the luxury of switching players without the performance dropping in any way.
The indication is that it will be no different this week with Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe and Canan Moodie in the back three, with all three having starred for the Boks at various times. Van der Merwe scored a hat-trick against the Barbarians a few weeks back.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Rassie Erasmus names his Springbok team to face Scotland in the #NationsChampionship on Saturday at Loftus, making a host of changes 🇿🇦🏴#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/nFsaoYxYpB
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 6, 2026
The midfield change sees Willemse, who was the best player on the pitch at Ellis Park, moving to 12 to partner Jesse Kriel, while at halfback the Bulls pairing of Handre Pollard and Embrose Papier will drive the Springboks’ game plan.
Papier last played for the Boks in 2018, after which he was never selected again, but he has been in sensational form this season for the Bulls, prompting a recall on his home ground.
There is also a recall for the URC top try scorer, Evan Roos, who will be at eight with Du Toit moving back to his preferred seven spot to captain the side and De Villiers, who was a late replacement for Siya Kolisi on game day this past weekend, getting to play for a second week after making his debut against the English.
Kolisi has a hamstring strain, and there continue to be concerns about Eben Etzebeth after he was withdrawn with concussion, with Cobus Wiese moving into the second row to partner his Bulls teammate Nortje.
Up front, Boan Venter is partnering the Bulls duo of Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw - with the latter being part of the most powerful scrum of the competition.
On the bench the Boks boast a powerful front row of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who had a good second-half cameo at Ellis Park, Stormers star Ntuthuko Mchunu, and Zach Porthen, who also had a barnstorming run in Johannesburg.
Ben-Jason Dixon gets to continue where he left off with a good performance at Ellis Park, while Vincent Tshituka and Elrigh Louw both get a run as well.
The bench is set at a six-two split with Grant Williams and Quan Horn covering the backline, which underlines why Horn was at 10 against the Barbarians a few weeks ago in Gqeberha.
Springbok team to face Scotland at Loftus Versfeld: Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van de Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Damian Willemse, Canan Moodie; Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier; Evan Roos, Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), Paul de Villiers, Ruan Nortje, Cobus Wiese, Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar, Boan Venter.
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Zach Porthen, Ben-Jason Dixon, Vincent Tshituka, Elrigh Louw, Grant Williams, Quan Horn.