Springboks make front-row change for French test

South Africa play France in Paris on Friday

Wilco Louw starts for the Springboks in place of Thomas du Toit. Pic: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images/Getty Images

South Africa have made one change to their starting XV for the eagerly awaited Nations Championship test against France in Paris ​on Friday with prop Wilco Louw moving from the ‌bench to start in place of Thomas du Toit.

The Springboks front row is hooker Malcolm Marx, and props Louw and Ox Nche. The ​replacement front row will see hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels come ​on with Gerhard Steenekamp and Du Toit.

Lood de ⁠Jager and Ruan Nortje remain the lock pairing, with ​captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and number eight Jasper Wiese ​in the back row.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts again at flyhalf with Morne van den Berg at scrumhalf, and experienced centres Jesse Kriel and Damian ​de Allende.

Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach has been brought onto the ​bench to replace Grant Williams.

"We ⁠said from the outset that we would not rotate too much on this tour, so it was always our intention to select a settled squad for this game to build momentum ​in the competition," ​coach Rassie ⁠Erasmus said.

The Springboks have won the last five matches between the teams in Paris, dating ​back to 2013.

SOUTH AFRICA (v France): D Willemse, K-L Arendse, J ​Kriel, D ⁠de Allende, E Hooker, S Feinberg-Mngomezulu, M van den Berg; (8-1): J Wiese, P-S du Toit, S Kolisi (capt), R Nortje, L de ⁠Jager, W Louw, M Marx, O Nche.

Replacements: J-H ​Wessels, G Steenekamp, T du Toit, F Mostert, C Hanekom, P de Villiers, C Reinach, M Libbok.

Reuters