RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn to start together for South Africa against Wales
ANOTHER START: South Africa’s Jean Kleyn. Pic: INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Steve Haag
World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi – as well as Ox Nche and Jaden Hendrikse – will make their first Test appearances of the year on Saturday when South Africa take on Wales in their second World Cup warm-up match at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Kolisi and Nche make their return from injury while Hendrikse makes his first appearance following a family bereavement.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made 11 changes to the starting team that defeated Argentina 24-13 in Buenos Aires two weekends ago, with the big inclusions being the return of Kolisi (flanker) and Nche (prop) from knee and pectoral muscle injuries respectively, and the inclusion of Hendrikse (scrum-half).
The team features the reuniting of Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe (both props) and Malcolm Marx (hooker) for the second time this season, while the Munster lock duo of Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman will start together in Springbok jerseys for the first time.
The loose trio also has a new look to it, with Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit partnering up with Jasper Wiese in the other changes in the forward pack – reforming a combination that last appeared together against Ireland in November.
In the backline Hendrikse will take the field alongside regular fly-half Manie Libbok, while Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel make up the midfield combination. Cheslin Kolbe comes in on the left wing where he will form an exciting back three with veteran fullback Willie le Roux and right wing Canan Moodie.
Nienaber opted for a six-two split in favour of forwards on the bench, where Nche and Vincent Koch will provide cover at prop and Bongi Mbonambi – who captained the team in the last Test against Argentina – at hooker, while the physical trio of Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden and Duane Vermeulen will also be ready to make an impact off the bench.
The two backs among the replacements are Grant Williams, who can provide cover at scrum-half and wing, and Damian Willemse, who can slot in at fly-half, centre and fullback.
“We have two Tests left before we begin our Rugby World Cup campaign and our focus now is to start building momentum and continuity so that we can peak at the right time for our opening game against Scotland in just under four weeks,” said Nienaber.
“We gave most of the players in the expanded squad a run in the last four matches and they are now battle hardened and we know anyone in this squad can step in and rise to the challenge whenever they are selected."
Nienaber is expecting a physical battle with the Welsh.
“Wales are a gutsy team, and similarly to the Pumas, they don’t hold back,” said Nienaber. “So, we need to be up for the match physically and get into every battle from the get-go. They’ll also draw confidence from the fact that they won four of their last five games against us at home, but we did well to grind out a win against them last year, so we expect it to be an epic battle.”
W le Roux; C Moodie, J Kriel, D de Allende, C Kolbe; M Libbok, J Hendrikse; S Kitshoff, M Marx, F Malherbe; J Kleyn, RG Snyman; S Kolisi (Captain), P Steph du Toit, J Wiese.
B Mbonambi, O Nche, V Koch, F Mostert, M van Staden, D Vermeulen, G Williams, D Willemse.
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