Four Changes To The Springbok Match-23 For Wales

Damian Willemse, Jesse Kriel and Herschel Jantjies will start against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made four changes to his matchday squad that defeated the All Blacks for their opening Test of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.

Willemse, who has 14 Test caps, will earn his fourth start in the green and gold when he runs out at fullback, while it will be Jantjies’ third Test in the No 9 jersey as he pairs up with Handré Pollard in the halfback combination. Kriel, who starts at right-wing, will earn his 49th cap in the match that kicks off at 17h30 (19h30 SA time),

Willemse comes in for Willie le Roux in a rotational switch, and Jantjies takes over from Faf de Klerk who was ruled out of the squad due to a hip flexor injury. Kriel replaces Sbu Nkosi, who is yet to travel to the UK as he awaits the necessary paperwork.

Jantjies’ promotion to the starting line-up sees Cobus Reinach being drafted onto the replacements bench in the only change among the reserves.

The Springboks will travel to Edinburgh to face Scotland and then London where they will line up against England following this weekend’s match.

Springbok Team to Face Wales in Cardiff

15 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 14 caps, 5pts (1t)
14 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 48 caps, 60 pts (12t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 23 caps, 25 pts (5t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Munster) – 55 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 22 caps, 85 pts (17t)
10 – Handré Pollard (vice-captain, Montpellier) – 57 caps, 568 pts (6t, 83c, 120p, 4d)
9 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 18 caps, 25 pts (5t)

8 – Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 58 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 – Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 16 caps, 5 pts (1t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 60 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 53 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 94 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls) – 51 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers) – 45 caps, 45 pts (9t)
1 – Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks) – 6 caps, 0pts

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 43 caps, 45 pts (9t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 56 caps, 5pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 28 caps, 0 pts
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 48 caps, 5pts (1t)
20 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 8 caps, 0 pts
21 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 18 caps, 40pts (8t)
22 – Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) – 41 caps, 309 pts (2t, 64c, 56p, 1d)
23 – Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 71 caps, 141pts (11t, 7c, 21p, 3d)

Outgoing Tour Fixtures

Saturday, 6 November
19:30 – Wales v South Africa (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)

Saturday, 13 November
14:00 – Scotland v South Africa (BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh)

Saturday, 20 November
17:15 – England v South Africa (Twickenham, London)