Springboks squad to take on Wales

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made eleven changes to his starting line-up for the team’s Castle Lager Incoming Series decider against Wales in Cape Town on July 16 as Eben Etzebeth earns his 100th Test cap and Bongi Mbonambi his 50th.

Etzebeth, who made his Springbok debut in June 2012 against England, will become the seventh player to reach this significant career milestone, following in the footsteps of Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana, Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit, Jean de Villiers and Percy Montgomery.

Nienaber named a new-look backline featuring the versatile Damian Willemse at fullback, with Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi on the wings. The regular centre pairing of Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am will again partner up in the midfield.

The Bok coach retained the halfback pairing of Handre Pollard and Jaden Hendrikse in the backline. Regular Bok captain Siya Kolisi reclaims the captaincy in a loose trio with Pieter-Steph du Toit (flanker) and Jasper Wiese (No 8).

The other changes up front see Lood de Jager pair up with Etzebeth in the second row. Nienaber named a new front row of props Trevor Nyakane and Frans Malherbe on either side of Mbonambi, who made his debut off the bench against Ireland in June 2016 and will become the 45th Bok to reach half a century of test caps.

There were an array of changes among the replacements. It again features a split of six forwards and two backs, with Steven Kitshoff (prop), Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith (utility forwards), and Elrigh Louw (flanker) featuring alongside scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and fullback Willie le Roux.

While Nienaber was proud of the remarkable career milestones for Etzebeth and Mbonambi, he said the match was significant for the entire team with a Castle Lager Incoming Series victory at stake.

“We are proud of Eben and Bongi for their achievements, although it would be remiss of us as a team for that to out-shadow the fact that we need to win on Saturday to seal the series against Wales,” said Nienaber.

“We are also playing in what is essentially a final for us. We know that we need to pitch up on the day and deliver a quality 80-minute performance to emerge victorious.”