Springboks: Rassie Erasmus forced into ANOTHER change as Eben Etzebeth starts v Wales
Springboks forward Pieter-Steph du Toit and Eben Etzebeth an insert of Rassie Erasmus.
Rassie Erasmus has been forced into making yet another change to his Springboks team to face Wales on Saturday in the Autumn Nations Series.
This comes after loosehead prop Ox Nche was initially named in the starting XV but the Springboks coaching team opted to rest him and not risk further injury after he was forced off the pitch against England due to a cut above his knee.
Nche’s withdrawal means that Thomas du Toit has shifted from tighthead prop to loosehead with Wilco Louw returning to the Springboks‘ starting line-up, earning back-to-back starts.
Jean Kleyn ruled out
Now, Erasmus has made yet another change to his starting pack with Eben Etzebeth moving from the bench into the run-on team after Jean Kleyn sustained a niggle in training.
Kleyn was set to earn his first cap for the Springboks since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final after which he endured a torrid spell on the sidelines which lasted ten-and-half months.
With Etzebeth moving into the starting XV, Marco van Staden has been added to the bench after Erasmus allowed Pieter-Steph du Toit, Makazole Mapimpi, Kwagga Smith, Andre Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am to return to South Africa ahead of schedule. Du Toit has also been ruled out of the match because of a niggle.
Jean Kleyn: ‘Eben Etzebeth is by far the most dominant tighthead lock in the game’
“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 Rugby 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.
Saturday’s match against Wales is an opportunity for South Africa to cement their place on top of the World Rugby rankings until next year at least as Ireland and New Zealand cannot surpass the Boks if Erasmus’ charges defeat Warren Gatland’s men.
Updated Springboks team to face Wales
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 (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements: 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
Date: Saturday, November 23
Venue: Principality Stadium
Kick-off: 17:40 GMT
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley (RFU), Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
