Rassie Erasmus has overhauled the Springbok team for Sunday’s one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth and sprung a surprise with his choice of skipper.
There are 13 changes to the starting XV that beat the All Blacks in Baltimore, with only lock Eben Etzebeth and wing Ethan Hooker retaining their places.
Hybrid André Esterhuizen, who starts at inside centre, will become the 68th player to captain the Boks.
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There is a new front row of props Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Zachary Porthen, and hooker Johan Grobbelaar, while Etzebeth joins forces with Franco Mostert in the engine room.
The back row features flanks Paul de Villiers and Elrigh Louw, and No 8 Marco van Staden.
Erasmus has also opted for a new halfback pairing of Herschel Jantjies and Handré Pollard, who has recovered from the niggle that ruled him out of the second Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test.
Esterhuizen partners Canan Moodie in midfield, with Hooker, Edwill van der Merwe and Aphelele Fassi forming the back three.
In total, nine players in Erasmus’ match 23 featured in the Baltimore Test.
Ox Nché, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw provide front-row cover, with Lood de Jager again covering lock and Jasper Wiese the loose forwards. Wiese will earn his 50th Test cap when he comes on.
The three backs on the bench are scrumhalf Morné van den Berg, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and fullback Quan Horn.
SPRINGBOKS – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 André Esterhuizen (c), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marco van Staden, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nché, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Quan Horn.
Photo: Steve Haag/Getty Images
The post New captain for new-look Boks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Rassie Erasmus has overhauled the Springbok team for Sunday’s one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth and sprung a surprise with his choice of skipper.
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