Kolisi back to lead Springboks

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi returns to the national side for the first time this season as coach Jacques Nienaber showed his hand and named close to his strongest side for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match against Wales in Cardiff.

While there may be one or two places that are still experimental, and giving game time, the overwhelming majority of the side shows a mixture of form and experience as the Boks start to work towards their goal of retaining the Webb Ellis trophy, won in Japan four years ago.

The Wales game is the second last chance for players to impress for a starting role ahead of the opening game in Marseilles against Scotland on September one, and Nienaber and co are clearly moving towards a more strategic selection.

Kolisi’s name stands out in the team selection, with the Bok captain taking the field an incredible four months after tearing his ACL ligament in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship game for the Sharks.

It will be the Bok captain’s first competitive game for the year and an important first step to leading his side out at the World Cup next month.

There is also a return to action for prop Ox Nche, who suffered a pectorial muscle at the beginning of the season and missed the Rugby Championship

INTERESTING COMBINATIONS

Elsewhere there are a number of intriguing combinations, while some players are given more time on the field as the Boks start to hone combinations.

The Munster duo of RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn, for instance is a very intriguing one. Kleyn has cemented himself as the back-up to Eben Etzebeth and his physicality against Wales will be watched with intensity, while Snyman has had largely a role off the bench for the Boks, but will be given the opportunity to stake a claim with Lood de Jager out of the Bok squad because of a minor heart ailment.

They back up a potent front row in Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Malcolm Marx, with Marx winning the nod ahead of Bongi Mbonambi, who captained the team in Buenos Aires two weeks back.

Jasper Wiese, who has fallen a bit behind Duane Vermeulen in the pecking order, gets a second start to stake a claim in his 23rd cap for the Boks, and will start alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kolisi in the loose trio.

Jaden Hendrikse gets his first start of the international season, as a family bereavement robbed him of game time earlier in the season and his combination with Manie Libbok - now the number one choice at flyhalf - will be watched with interest after Handre Pollard’s shock omission from the World Cup squad.

Jesse Kriel is the obvious candidate to partner Damian de Allende in the midfield after Lukhanyo Am’s injury with the Bok selectors resisting the temptation to combine Andre Esterhuizen with De Allende for this game.

Canan Moodie’s man of the match performance against Argentina has earned him another start in the back three with Willie le Roux and Chesliin Kolbe.

BACK TO 6-2 SPLIT

On the bench, the Boks boast a strong “bomb squad” with Nche returning to action and will form the back-up front row with Mbonambi and Vincent Koch while Franco Mostert’s versatility gives the Boks the luxury to add two loose forwards in Marco van Staden and veteran Duane Vermeulen on the bench.

Grant Williams gets a bench role after his 11 second game at Ellis Park after having recovered from concussion while Damian Willemse will fulfill the bench role covering a multitude of positions.