Start for Jasper Wiese as Springboks change three
South Africa have made three changes to their starting XV to face the British & Irish Lions on Saturday, as Jasper Wiese comes in at number eight.
Head coach Jacques Nienaber has reacted to the 22-17 defeat at Cape Town Stadium last Saturday by replacing the ineffectual Kwagga Smith with Wiese, who came on as a replacement against Georgia on July 2.
And there are two adjustments to the front-row with only hooker Bongi Mbonambi surviving as the Springboks give starts to props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe.
Ox Nche, one the starting props for the first Test, has been ruled out by a neck problem but Mbonambi continues after recovering from a hamstring issue.
Six-two split on bench
South Africa have opted for a six-two split on the bench, which includes Saracens tighthead Vincent Koch. Marco van Staden takes over from Rynhardt Elstadt as back row cover alongside Smith.
“This is a massive game for us – it’s do or die in order to stay in the race to win the series,” Nienaber said.
“We have selected a team that offers continuity in selection, but also one that we thought would be the best suited to achieve the objectives we have set for this match.
“We disappointed ourselves last week, and we all know how important it is to bounce back with a strong performance and show our fighting spirit and pride as a team and nation.”
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Damian Willemse
Date: Saturday, July 31
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 BST, 16:00 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry, Mathieu Raynal
TMO: Marius Jonker
South African TMO helps Lions?
Despite Warren Gatland's reported anger at the appointment of South African Marius Jonker as Television Match Official for the British and Irish Lions’ first Test against the Springboks, the TMO had a say in helping the Lions pick up the win.