By Craig Taylor.
Photo Creidt: Anton Geyser.
The Springboks were forced into a late change to their starting XV for the Test against Wales on Saturday with the news that Eben Etzebeth will start at lock alongside Franco Mostert.
Etzebeth replaces Jean Kleyn, who was forced to withdraw from the team due to injury.
While there was no news on the nature of the niggle that forced Kleyn’s withdrawal, Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus said he felt for the lock, who had recently returned from a long-term injury and who would have played his first match on tour.
“We feel for Jean as it would have been his first Test since the Rugby World Cup final last year, but Marco is also a World Cup winner and has been with the squad all season, and he has also been training with the squad all week and throughout the tour. So, it was a logical choice for him to start on the bench,” said Erasmus.
Earlier this week, Erasmus made a change to the original Springbok team announced on Tuesday when he opted to rest Ox Nche, who suffered a cut above his knee in the clash against England last Saturday.
That change saw Thomas du Toit move from tighthead prop to loosehead, with Wilco Louw drafted into the team to pull on the No 3 jumper.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 19:40 (SA time).
Wales
15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 James Botham, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Christ Tshiunza, 3 Gareth Thomas, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Archie Griffin
Substitutes: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Eddie James, 23 Josh Hathaway
South Africa
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Thomas du Toit
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marco van Staden 20 RG Snyman, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Handre Pollard.