By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Springboks lock RG Snyman will join the select group of players to earn 50 Test caps for South Africa when they run out at the Aviva Stadium against Ireland on Saturday.
Snyman will become the third squad member to achieve a significant milestone on tour, following Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus, who shared the special occasion of earning their 100th Test caps as players and 50th as the head coach against France.
The two personnel changes to Erasmus’ squad see Ruan Nortje being promoted from the replacements bench to the starting lineup, replacing Lood de Jager, while Kwagga Smith returns to the team from the bench in his place.
The only other change to the squad is in the backline, where Canan Moodie switches from centre against Italy to wing to fill the void left by Kurt-Lee Arendse, who has returned to South Africa after suffering a concussion last week.
De Jager and fellow lock Franco Mostert were not considered for selection due to their disciplinary hearings and appeals this week to avoid the outcomes of those decisions impacting the team’s preparations for the match.
Cheslin Kolbe (wing) and Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf) will both feature in their 49th Test matches, leaving them only one game short of joining Snyman and several other teammates on 50 caps.
Props Boan Venter and Thomas du Toit will form the front row with hooker Malcolm Marx; Eben Etzebeth and Nortje will start at lock, with Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese completing a powerful forward pack.
In the backline, Reinach will reunite with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at halfback, with Kolbe and Moodie on the wings, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel pairing up in the midfield, and Damian Willemse at fullback.
Erasmus’ bench includes the back-up front row of Johan Grobelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Wilco Louw. At the same time, Snyman will provide cover at lock, Smith at loose forward, hybrid Esterhuizen able to cover flanker and centre, and two specialist backs in Grant Williams and Manie Libbok.
Erasmus said the plan was always to restore senior combinations for Ireland.
“The majority of this team were rested last week to ensure that they recover from the physically taxing match against France, and it was always our plan to name an experienced outfit against Ireland.”
He added that Snyman’s milestone is richly deserved.
“He’s a great player and team man, and had it not been for injuries along the way, he would have probably earned 50 caps a while ago.”
Ireland remain one of the toughest home assignments in Test rugby, and Erasmus was frank about the scale of the challenge.
“They have a good balance of experienced and exciting young players … so it’s going to require a massive effort to beat them,” he said.
“This group of players have never won a match in Ireland before … we know that we have to be razor sharp in all departments to get the desired result.”
Kick-off is at 7:40pm (SA time).
SPRINGBOKS – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach,
8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter.
Bench: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Andre Esterhuizen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.