Seven Bok changes for Battle of Brisbane
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made seven changes to his starting XV for the Rugby Championship Round Three encounter with the Wallabies.
South Africa face Australia in Brisbane on Saturday with a new-look front row, a reshuffled loose trio as well as a different midfield combination.
Erasmus also included uncapped utility back Cheslin Kolbe on the bench, with the former BlitzBok and Junior Bok speedster set to make his Test debut should he join the action as a replacement.
Steven Kitshoff and Bongi Mbonambi will form a new-look front row, next to Frans Malherbe, while Tendai Mtawarira and Malcolm Marx are set to play off the bench.
Siya Kolisi (captain) returns to the No.6 jersey – after playing on the opposite side of the scrum against the Pumas in Durban and Mendoza.
Pieter-Steph du Toit will start in the No.7 jersey and Warren Whiteley completes the loose trio at No 8.
Elton Jantjies swaps places at flyhalf with Handré Pollard, who is now amongst the replacements, with Francois de Klerk again performing the scrumhalf duties.
Erasmus also rotated his midfield, which means a first start this year for Damian de Allende, who will resume his centre partnership with Jesse Kriel.
Aphiwe Dyantyi and Makazole Mapimpi (wings), while the experienced fullback Willie le Roux completes the rest of the South African backline.
“We are looking for a good response on Saturday against the Wallabies and I am sure that this side will be up to the task,” said Erasmus.
According to the Bok mentor, both sides will be desperate to succeed as a result of their respective results in the previous round of matches.
“Australia, playing at home, will no doubt be highly motivated to bounce back, so we have to be ready for a huge contest,” he added.
“We have worked hard to rectify our errors of last week and we know the set-piece and breakdown battles are going to especially be important.
“The Wallabies are known for their abilities at the breakdown and we will have to be accurate and disciplined in those areas.”
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Rudolph Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Cheslin Kolbe.
Date: Saturday, September 8
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20.00 (12.00 SA time; 10.00 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
The Springboks will face the Wallabies on Saturday in Brisbane with a new-look front row, a reshuffled loose trio as well as a different midfield combination, while Rassie Erasmus also included the uncapped Cheslin Kolbe on the Boks’ bench. @MTNza @FNBSA @CastleLagerSA pic.twitter.com/bB3bw3J6I4
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) September 6, 2018
