Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has made six changes, which includes two positional switches, to his team for Saturday’s match against Italy in Genoa.
Cheslin Kolbe has obviously come through his concussion protocols for he has been included on the wing and the Bok back three is unchanged from the one that started last week against France in Marseille. If Kolbe was available that was always going to happen as the back three did well in the French game and this will be the last time they will be able to play together on this tour as Kolbe is set to return to Toulon and will therefore miss the final tour match against England.
DAMIAN AT 13
Andre Esterhuizen is also due to return to his English club the week of the Twickenham game, which might explain his inclusion at inside centre. If Nienaber is going to look at him in a game situation, this is his final chance to do it until next year. Esterhuizen’s selection means a change of position for Damian de Allende, who this week will be wearing the No 13 outside centre jersey instead of his usual No 12.
The other positional switch is the predicted one at blindside flank, where Pieter-Steph du Toit was considered to be unavailable due to the pending disciplinary hearing following the red card he was shown by English referee Wayne Barnes at the Stade Velodrome at the weekend. Franco Mostert moves from lock back into the No 7 blindside flank jersey, with two Stormers in Marvin Orie and Salmaan Moerat coming together to form a new lock pairing. Well, it is new at international level, they have played together often enough for the Stormers.
JASPER'S BACK AT THE BACK
In the other change to the team that started in Marseille, Jasper Wiese is back at No 8 after being an 11th hour withdrawal because of concussion last week. Kwagga Smith moves to the bench, where he is joined by Stormers No 8 Evan Roos as one of two loose-forward reserves as Nienaber moves back to the six/two bomb squad split between forwards and backs after going five/three last week.
Eben Etzebeth is being given a well-deserved break from the starting team after the yeoman work he has produced for his country this year, with his non-appearance in the list of World Rugby Player of the Year Award nominees showing how biased or just inept the people are who make those selections. It really does beggar belief.
But Etzebeth isn’t having a complete break this weekend, the enforcer will be there to add impact as a replacement later in the game.
Cobus Reinach, who also won’t be on duty against England because of his club commitment, retains his place as one of two backs on the replacements bench, with Manie Libbok continuing as the flyhalf/fullback back-up and probably set to get more game time in this match than he did in the high pressured atmosphere in Marseille.
Springbok team: Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian Willemse, Faf de Klerk, Jasper Wiese, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (captain), Marvin Orie, Salmaan Moerat, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche.
Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Kwagga Smith, Evan Roos, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.