Etzebeth to start as Kleyn withdraws from Wales Test

Eben Etzebeth will start at lock alongside Franco Mostert in the Springboks’ final Castle Lager Outgoing Tour clash against Wales on Saturday after Jean Kleyn was forced to withdraw from the match-23 due to a niggle.

Etzebeth’s promotion to the starting XV sees flanker Marco van Staden being drafted onto the replacements’ bench.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus decided to make the late change to the match-23 on Friday morning, and said he had full faith in Van Staden to make a valuable impact off the bench after being a regular member of the squad all season.

“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.

The match kicks off at 19h40 (SA time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Updated Springbok team to face Wales in Cardiff:

15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 10 caps, 30 points (6t)

14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 39 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)

13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 78 caps, 90 points (18t)

12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 86 caps, 55 points (11t)

11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 23 caps, 85 points (17t)

10 – Jordan Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 1 cap, 7 pts (2c, 1p)

9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 19 pts (2t, 3c, 1p)

8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 33 caps, 10 points (2t)

7 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 12 caps, 0 points

6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 91 caps, 60 points (12t)

5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 77 caps, 15 points (3t)

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 130 caps, 30 points (6t)

3 – Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 15 caps, 0 points

2 – Johan Grobbelaar(Vodacom Bulls) – 2 caps, 0 points

1 – Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 22 caps, 5 pts (1t)

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 75 caps, 105 points (21t)

17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 caps, 0 points

18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 60 caps, 0 points

19 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 10 points (2t)

20 – RG Snyman (Leinster) – 39 caps, 10 points (2t)

21 – Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped

22 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 38 caps, 70 pts (14t)

23 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 79 caps, 772 points (7t, 109c, 168p, 5dg)

Nche rested against Wales with Louw to earn second successive start

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus decided to rest prop Ox Nche for Saturday’s Test against Wales in Cardiff, which will see a front-row reshuffle with Wilco Louw returning to the starting team at tighthead prop, while Thomas du Toit will move to loosehead.

Nche started last week’s Test against England in London and the match against Scotland in Edinburgh, but Erasmus and his coaching team decided that it would be best for him to rest this weekend.

As a result, Louw has been drafted into the starting team for the final Test of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour, while the replacements bench remains unchanged from the one named by Erasmus on Tuesday.

Louw played his 15^th Test for the Boks last week after last featuring in the green and gold in 2021, and his inclusion in the starting lineup will see him play his second match in a row on the tour.

“Ox has been a key player for us this season and, given his high work-rate over the last few months, we opted to rest him for this clash,” said Erasmus.

“Wilco started last week’s match, and he’s been training well this week, so it makes sense to include him in the starting team and move Thomas to loosehead prop.

“It also maintains the consistency we have in the front row among the replacements.”

Erasmus also revealed that four players who were not included in the matchday squad would return home on Wednesday to spend time with their families before returning to their respective clubs and franchises.

Utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit, who is nursing a shoulder niggle, returned home on Monday, while the other four players returning home are Kwagga Smith (loose forward), Lukhanyo Am (centre), Andre Esterhuizen (centre) and Makazole Mapimpi (wing).

“We gave a few players who are not playing the option to remain in camp or return home to spend quality time with their families, while at the same time ensuring that we have enough depth in the squad to cover all the positions in case we suffer injuries before the match,” said Erasmus. “So, we are confident that we all well covered in the event that anything should happen before the game.”

Updated Springbok team to face Wales in Cardiff:

15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 10 caps, 30 points (6t)

14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 39 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)

13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 78 caps, 90 points (18t)

12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 86 caps, 55 points (11t)

11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 23 caps, 85 points (17t)

10 – Jordan Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 1 cap, 7 pts (2c, 1p)

9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 19 pts (2t, 3c, 1p)

8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 33 caps, 10 points (2t)

7 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 12 caps, 0 points

6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 91 caps, 60 points (12t)

5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 77 caps, 15 points (3t)

4 – Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 7 caps, 0 pts (Ireland 5 caps)

3 – Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 15 caps, 0 points

2 – Johan Grobbelaar(Vodacom Bulls) – 2 caps, 0 points

1 – Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 22 caps, 5 pts (1t)

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 75 caps, 105 points (21t)

17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 caps, 0 points

18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 60 caps, 0 points

19 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 130 caps, 30 points (6t)

20 – RG Snyman (Leinster) – 39 caps, 10 points (2t)

21 – Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped

22 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 38 caps, 70 pts (14t)

23 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 79 caps, 772 points (7t, 109c, 168p, 5dg)

Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse – the 36^th set of Springbok brothers – have been paired at halfback for the season’s final Test against Wales in the last match of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

Cameron Hanekom (loose forward) is set to become the 12^th Springbok to make his Test debut this season after being named on the replacements’ bench by Bok coach Rassie Erasmus in a match-23 that shows seven personnel changes to the team that beat England 29-20 in London on Saturday.

Jaden (scrumhalf) and Jordan (flyhalf) Hendrikse are the first set of brothers to appear together since Dan and Robert du Preez featured against Wales in Washington DC at the start of the 2018 season.

The last time a set of brothers were included in the starting team, was in the Rugby World Cup pool match against Scotland in 2015, when front rowers Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis ran out in tandem in Newcastle.

The Hendrikse’s inclusion are the only changes in the backline, while there are five changes in the starting pack: Johan Grobbelaar starts at hooker (after last featuring in a match-23 against Australia in Perth) while Thomas du Toit returns at tighthead prop, with Ox Nche retaining the No 1 jumper.

The team also features a new lock combination of the fit-again Jean Kleyn (who last appeared in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final) and Franco Mostert, while the only change in the loose trio is at flanker, where Elrigh Louw replaces Pieter-Steph du Toit (who is nursing a shoulder niggle) and will start alongside captain Siya Kolisi and hard-running No 8 Jasper Wiese.

“This is our last match of the season, and we are determined to finish the year on a positive note,” said Erasmus.

“We selected a squad that shows a good mix of experience and youth, which is crucial as we look to maintain some consistency in selection, while at the same time giving guys like Jordan and Cameron, who have been exceptional at training on tour, a chance to show us what they can do.

“Jordan played against Wales in June, and we are very excited to see how he dictates play with Jaden alongside him, and we are also delighted that Cameron is getting a chance to play after showing his class at training throughout the tour and for the Vodacom Bulls in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

“Cameron also offers us a few options at loose forward as he can play No 6, No 7 and No 8, and that will be valuable with two locks on the bench.”

Hanekom was drafted into the squad before the team’s departure for their pre-tour training camp in Jersey following the withdrawal of utility back Damian Willemse, and should he take the field, he will become the 52^nd player to feature for the team this season, with Kleyn being the 51^st.

Erasmus opted for six forwards and two backs on the bench, with the same replacement front row of Malcolm Marx (hooker), Gerhard Steenekamp, and Vincent Koch (both props), while Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman, who started in the engine room on Saturday, are rotated to the bench.

The two backline players among the replacements are the double Rugby World Cup-winning duo of Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf) and Handre Pollard (flyhalf).

Erasmus, whose squad includes 17 RWC winners, was also delighted to have Kleyn back in the mix and said: “Jean is an experienced player who has played in two World Cup tournaments, one for the Springboks and one for Ireland, and he has been in good form for Munster, so it’s good to have him back in the team alongside Franco who he knows very well.

“Both of them only recently returned from injury and will play pivotal roles in the lineouts and set pieces, and we have no doubt Eben and RG will make a big impact off the bench with their high work rate and physicality around the park.”

Erasmus expected a challenging clash against Wales despite the hosts going into the match on a disappointing run of 11 defeats in a row, and said his charges had to be ready mentally and physically to face a team determined to show that they can turn things around.

“Wales are a proud nation with a world-renowned coach in Warren Gatland, and they’ll do everything to finish their campaign on a high note,” said Erasmus.

“We’ve experienced first-hand how a run of defeats can galvanise a team, and the fact that they’ll be playing at home with a passionate crowd behind them will inspire them even more – just as our supporters inspire us when we play at home.

“Obviously we’d love to finish the tour unbeaten, but we are well aware of the fact that we’ve have a few close results against them over the years at the Principality Stadium.”

Erasmus said there were plenty of examples of teams reversing their fortunes from the status of underdogs.

“A lot can change in rugby with a change in confidence and mindset, and Australia is a perfect example of how things can change in the sport if one considers how well they are playing now compared to last year,” said Erasmus.

“So, we’ll show Wales the same respect we showed England and Scotland, and we know we know we have to be at our best to come out with the result we want.

“They are a team with everything to gain and nothing to lose, so it would be careless of us to think that we just need to pitch up and the result will go in our favour. In fact, a little over a year ago, they played in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final, which is a testament to the force they can be.”

Springbok team to face Wales in Cardiff:

15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 10 caps, 30 points (6t)

14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 39 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)

13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 78 caps, 90 points (18t)

12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 86 caps, 55 points (11t)

11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 23 caps, 85 points (17t)

10 – Jordan Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 1 cap, 7 pts (2c, 1p)

9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 19 pts (2t, 3c, 1p)

8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 33 caps, 10 points (2t)

7 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 12 caps, 0 points

6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 91 caps, 60 points (12t)

5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 77 caps, 15 points (3t)

4 – Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 7 caps, 0 pts (Ireland 5 caps)

3 – Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 22 caps, 5 pts (1t)

2 – Johan Grobbelaar(Vodacom Bulls) – 2 caps, 0 points

1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps, 0 points

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 75 caps, 105 points (21t)

17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 caps, 0 points

18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 60 caps, 0 points

19 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 130 caps, 30 points (6t)

20 – RG Snyman (Leinster) – 39 caps, 10 points (2t)

21 – Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) - uncapped

22 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 38 caps, 70 pts (14t)

23 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 79 caps, 772 points (7t, 109c, 168p, 5dg)

Stats and facts:

Springbok record against Wales:

Played 42; Won 34; Lost 7; Drawn 1; Points for: 1 112; Points against; 671; Tries scored: 131; Tries conceded: 55; Highest score: 96-13; Biggest win: 83 points; Win %: 80,9%

Miscellaneous:

• Saturday’s match will be the Springboks’ 101^st match on British and Irish soil since the first tour in 1906 – including matches in the two Rugby World Cups held on the islands. Of those 100 matches, 66 have been won and three drawn while 31 have been lost. The most wins (20) have come against Wales; while the most defeats have been suffered against England (11).
• Eben Etzebeth will extend his Springbok record as the most capped player to 131 caps if he takes the field.
• The Springboks’ fourth try against England in on Saturday was the 50^th of the season – the most the Boks have scored in a non-Rugby World Cup season since 1997 (when 74 tries were scored in 13 tests).
• Should the Springboks win, it will be their 55^th in 78 matches since Rassie Erasmus returned (with Jacques Nienaber) in 2018 for a winning percentage of 70,5% over the past seven seasons (no matches were played in 2020), completing the raising of the team’s historic winning record by more than one whole percentage point from 62,47% to 63,60%.
• Should the Springboks win, it will be their 11^th victory from 13 matches in the year for a winning percentage of 84,6% – repeating the feat of 2023 – and the highest seasonal percentage achieved since 1998 when 11 of 12 matches were won for a percentage of 91,7%.
• A win or a draw for the Springboks would complete the first undefeated northern hemisphere tour since 2013.
• This will be the second time the teams meet in the UK this season after playing an international friendly in their opening match of the season at the Allianz Stadium in June.
• The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 539.
• There are256 caps in the backline, with 283 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further431 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline is36, the forwards 35, while the players on the bench average 53.