Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made 11 changes to the squad that will face Italy in the second Castle Lager Incoming Series Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday afternoon.
The team will be captained by Salmaan Moerat in the absence of Siya Kolisi and includes three uncapped players on the bench, and will feature only seven players from the side that defeated Italy 42-24 at the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria last week
Notable inclusion Willie le Roux, who will become the eight Springbok centurion, and the return of local favourite, Makazole Mapimpi, from a long-injury layoff.
The players in Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ team in line to make their Test debuts are Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cobus Wiese, and Ethan Hooker, will make their Test debuts.
“We said from the outset that we would rotate the team as we have a large and very talented squad, and all but three of the players have played Test rugby before.
“Adding to that, 13 players in this squad have won a World Cup before, 11 of whom are in the starting lineup and two on the bench, and that shows the depth we have as we continue to build our squad for the next few seasons and ultimately the 2027 Rugby World Cup,” said Erasmus.
Erasmus said he’s elated to see Le Roux earn his 100th Test cap.
“Willie has been a stalwart for us in the last few years after making his debut against Italy in Durban in 2013. He’s a fantastic playmaker, so we are thrilled to see him achieve this incredible feat,” remarked the coach.
Erasmus said they’ll not underestimate the Azzurri, who frustrated the Boks on Saturday, as they scored three second half tries.
“We said from the get-go that they are a tough team and that they will test us, and we know that their performance last week will psyche them up going into this match. They will come hard at us and deliver another passionate performance, but we also have high standards as a team, and we know that we need to shift into a different gear this weekend to produce a performance we can be proud of,” warned Erasmus.
