Springboks: Rassie Erasmus hands rookie first start in bombshell selection for Wallabies

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Elrigh Louw are set to make their first starts for the Springboks in Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test with the Wallabies in Brisbane.

Back-row Siya Kolisi captains a matchday 23 which features three changes from the second Test against Ireland in Durban last month with Louw, who starts at number eight, and experienced scum-half Cobus Reinach being the only new faces in the run-on side while replacement utility forward Ben-Jason Dixon comes in on the bench.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old utility back Feinberg-Mngomezulu slots in at fly-half after making four appearances off the replacements bench this season. It’s a similar story for Louw who also played his four previous games for the Springboks after coming off the bench since his debut in 2022.

There are only six players who are retained in the squad from the Boks‘ 64-21 win over Portugal in Bloemfontein at the end of July. They are: Louw, Reinach, Dixon, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, RG Snyman (lock) and Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing).

Reinach takes over from Faf de Klerk, who is nursing a niggle, as the first choice scrum-half while experienced fly-half Handre Pollard is included on the bench, along with Grant Williams, who will offer cover at scrum-half and wing, in a six-two split in favour of the forwards.

Concern over RG Snyman’s fitness

Erasmus revealed that Snyman had picked up a niggle at training on Tuesday and will be monitored for the rest of the week. Meanwhile, a powerful Bomb Squad is set to make an impact off the bench in the form of Malcolm Marx (hooker), Gerhard Steenekamp and Vincent Koch (both props), alongside Dixon, Marco van Staden and Kwagga Smith.

Erasmus is delighted that Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Louw are set to make their first Test starts.

“Sacha has made a notable impact off the bench in all four Tests he has played so far, and he’s slotted into the system with ease, so we are excited to see what dynamic he adds to the team as a starter,” he said.

“His goal-kicking has also been impressive, and we know that against teams like Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina the margins are very small, so every point will count.

“We’re also keen to see what Elrigh brings to the game, given his consistently strong performances for the Vodacom Bulls in the last few seasons and off the bench against Portugal. With Pieter-Steph (du Toit) and Siya (Kolisi) alongside him, he’ll have good guidance to play to his strengths and do what he does best.”

Erasmus revealed that the changes to the side were part of a broader Springbok selection plan.

“One of the big talking points for us as a team from the beginning of the season was that we need to get the balance right between selecting teams featuring youth and experience as we build toward towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup,” he added.

“We’re pleased with the way we’ve been able to integrate some of the young players into the squad this season and give them game time against top opposition.

“We rested several players against Portugal to ensure that we had a fresh squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, while a few young players really grabbed the opportunity to show what they can do in the first four Tests of the season.

“We’re excited to see what they have to offer against a team such as Australia which plays a vastly different style of rugby to that which we faced against Wales, Ireland and Portugal.

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“Sacha and Ben-Jason showed proper class when they earned their chance to play this season and we are looking forward to seeing them in action against the Wallabies.”

Erasmus is wary of the Wallabies who head into Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener in good form after notching three successive victories this season.

Australia will also go into this weekend’s clash in a confident mood after winning 12 of the last 13 games against South Africa in Brisbane.

“We only face the Southern Hemisphere teams in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship now, so we know they’ll pose a completely different challenge to the sides we’ve faced to date,” he said.

“They are also playing on their home turf where they have a good track record against us in the last few years, so we know it’s going to be a massive challenge.

“The fact that they are facing the world champions at home and knowing full well that they are hosting the 2027 World Cup will also inspire them, while we also have no doubt that they are desperate to climb the world rankings.

“They are a well-coached team with good playmakers, so they’ll definitely be charged up for Saturday’s match-up.”

The Springboks boss highlighted the importance of a good start to the tournament, adding: “We have a challenging campaign with two away games against Australia and then two Tests against New Zealand at home before making a short trip to Santiago where we will face Argentina, and then we wrap up the tournament against Los Pumas in Nelspruit, so it will be vital for us to start well and build good momentum.”

Of the Springboks’ poor record against the Wallabies in Brisbane, he said: “This is a new year and new campaign, and a lot has changed for both teams in the last few years, so while we are mindful of that statistic, it won’t affect how we approach this match or next week’s encounter in Perth.

“Just as winning the Rugby World Cup is history now, so is that statistic, so as a team we want to go out there and give our best, and if we stick to our structures and capitalise on our chances, hopefully we’ll work ourselves into a good position to get the desired result.”

Erasmus continued: “The rest granted to some players after the Ireland Test certainly paid off and one can see it in their enthusiasm and excitement to return to the field. That combined with the excitement from the younger players in the group for this challenge has contributed to a good atmosphere in the camp.”

Springboks team to face Australia in Brisbane

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 RG Snyman, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handré Pollard

Date: Saturday, August 10
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 14:45 (05:45 BST)
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

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