Jordan Hendrikse as the starting flyhalf is the signature selection as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus takes a peek at the future in Saturday’s first international of the new season against Wales at Twickenham.
As anticipated, Erasmus has decided to use this game as an opportunity to spread his selection net ahead of the Ireland series and the Castle Lager Rugby Championship that will come later in the season. The side has an experimental look to it although Erasmus has been wise in largely sticking with tried and trusted experienced players in his pack and wise old hands around the newcomers.
Hendrikse is one of two players who will make his debut in the starting team in the London match, with his Emirates Lions teammate Edwill van der Merwe the other. Van der Merwe will be playing on the right wing after making a late surge for Bok honours in the latter part of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship season.
There are also two debutants playing off the bench in this game, with the two DHL Stormers players Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ben-Jason Dixon set for their first caps for their country when they come onto the field.
The Leicester Tigers double World Cup winning flyhalf Handre Pollard is unavailable even though he is in the squad that is training in Pretoria because this game falls outside of the international window, and there is no Manie Libbok. So it is a bold move on Erasmus’ part to go with two rookies as his pivot options, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu backing up Hendrikse.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Rassie Erasmus has named his first Springbok team for 2024, to take on Wales at Twickenham this Saturday 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/mff0gwpKZG
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 18, 2024
PLAYERS RETURNED TO THE MIX
Apart from the debutants there are other players who haven’t played much for the Boks but have been returned to the mix, with Hollywoodbets Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi getting his first opportunity in a while. He will also be playing his preferred position of fullback for the first time as his previous three appearances in the Bok jersey have been on the wing.
Fassi has made some telling improvements to his game this season and it is his kicking game, positional play and defence that will come under particular scrutiny at Twickenham. Fassi may be needed in the last line of defence against Ireland as Damian Willemse, who started in the No 15 jersey in the World Cup final last October, is out injured and Willie le Roux was concussed and going for medical assessments after last Saturday’s URC semifinal.
Evan Roos gets his chance at No 8 after playing well there in the past, particularly in the November test match against England at the same Twickenham venue in 2022, before he had his momentum ruined by injury. Roos has been back to his best form for the Stormers this season. Roos’ franchise captain Salmaan Moerat is playing off the bench, his first appearance for the Boks in two years.
There is also pleasing recognition for the strides that have been made by Sharks prop Ntuthuko Mchunu. The former Maritzburg College loose-forward has been included on the bench.
Of course no Vodacom Bulls players were considered for this game, and neither were the Europe based players, so it goes without saying that the Bok team will look quite different for the first test against Ireland at Loftus on 6 July.
However, one man who will almost certainly be there is Malcolm Marx, and it is particularly good news for South African fans that the hooker is over the injury that forced him home early during the World Cup.
DU TOIT IN CAPTAIN'S SEAT
As anticipated and reported on supersport.com last week, the side will be captained in Siya Kolisi’ absence by blindside flank Pieter-Steph du Toit. The former Stormers forward and 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year played a similar role in Erasmus’ first game in charge way back in 2018 - also against Wales at a neutral venue, that time in Washington.
While Erasmus has been bold in backing Hendrikse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu for the key game-driving roles in this game, he has also wisely included experienced players around them - Faf de Klerk is at scrumhalf while Andre Esterhuizen is at inside centre. The double World Cup winner Damian de Allende is on the bench and ready to help out if needed.
Springbok team: Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Jordan Hendrikse, Faf de Klerk, Evan Roos, Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), Kwagga Smith, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche. Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Ben-Jason Dixon, Grant Williams, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian de Allende.