New-look Boks 'excite' Rassie
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: South African coach Rassie Erasmus said he is ‘excited’ by the team that will face England in the first of three Tests.
The Springboks face England at Ellis Park on Saturday, followed by matches in Bloemfontein (June 16) and Cape Town (June 23).
Sibusiso Nkosi, Aphiwe Dyantyi and Rudolph Snyman will make their Springbok debuts in the series opener.
The exciting wing pair and imposing young lock were included in a revamped Springbok team.
The Boks will also be skippered by a new captain in Siya Kolisi.
Saturday’ starting team is a completely revamped combination from the side that lost 20-22 to Wales in Washington last Saturday, with only Wilco Louw possibly starting again if Trevor Nyakane is not cleared to play.
Nyakane, who is nursing a rib injury, has been bracketed with Louw and will be given until Friday when a call on his inclusion will be made.
Experienced fullback Willie le Roux and lively scrumhalf Francois de Klerk were included in the starting team, while Duane Vermeulen has been named at No.8.
Le Roux, who like De Klerk last played for the Springboks in 2016, provides valuable experience to a new-look back trio – with Nkosi and Dyantyi.
De Klerk, who had an outstanding season with English Premiership side Sale Sharks, partners Handré Pollard at halfback, while Vermeulen teams up with Jean-Luc du Preez and captain Kolisi in the loose forward combination.
The uncapped Snyman has been a steady force for the Bulls this year and he deservedly earns his first Springbok cap as lock partner to the industrious Franco Mostert, while Pieter-Steph du Toit will play off the bench.
Tendai Mtawarira (prop) is now just one Test away from a century of Springbok caps, after he was named to start next to Mbongeni Mbonambi in the front row.
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SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, said the Springbok match 23 is an exciting combination.
“We have some good experienced players while there are some really exciting young men who have earned their opportunity to play for the Springboks,” said Erasmus.
“I am especially pleased for the three newcomers, Aphiwe [Dyantyi], Sbu [Nkosi] and Rudolph [Snyman],” the coach said, adding: “I am looking forward to see how they will perform in tough Test match conditions against a formidable opponent.”
According to Erasmus his side know what to expect from England, whom he described as a very well-drilled team under the leadership of Eddie Jones.
“England are a top-class, quality side and they will do doubt be very determined to be successful in this series, and with us desperate for success as well it means that the supporters can expect a really good Test match Saturday.
“We have prepared as well as we could and the players are looking forward to playing in front of our passionate supporters in Johannesburg.”
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Rudolph Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane/Wilco Louw, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw/Thomas du Toit, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Warrick Gelant.
Date: Saturday, June 9
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.00 (16.00 UK time; 15.00 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
