Springboks: Rassie Erasmus forced into late change on the eve of Wallabies rematch due too…
The Springboks have been forced into making a late team change on the eve of the clash with the Wallabies in Cape Town.
The alternation comes at full-back with Willie Le Roux withdrawing from the Rugby Championship clash due to a niggle sustained in training earlier this week.
Willle Le Roux ruled out
SA Rugby confirms that Le Roux has not recovered in time to play the second Test against Australia, prompting Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus to draft Aphelele Fassi straight into the number 15 jersey.
Le Roux became the eighth player in South African rugby history to feature in 100 Tests earlier this season, celebrating the milestone in the second Test against Italy.
Fassi started last week’s Test against the Wallabies in Johannesburg, where the Springboks went down 38-22, making this his second appearance in a row against the Wallabies.
He now joins Canan Moodie and Cheslin Kolbe in the back-three while Jesse Kriel captains the side from the centres in the absence of Siya Kolisi and partners Damian de Allende in the midfield.
Grant Williams and Handre Pollard are the starting halfbacks, while Jean-Luc du Preez, Franco Mostert and Marco van Staden start in the loose forwards.
Ruan Nortje and RG Snyman combine in the second-row with Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche packing down in the front row.
Erasmus has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench with Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu covering the backs.
The teams
Springboks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Lood de Jager, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Wallabies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Corey Toole, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andrew Kellaway
Date: Saturday, August 23
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17:10 local time (01:10 AEST Sunday, 16:10 BST, 15:10 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Richard Kelly (RA)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
