The squad assembled in Johannesburg on Sunday evening and resumed their on-field preparations on Monday, where they will be joined by Mchunu, who earned his fourth Test cap against Scotland during the Nations Championship earlier this month.

Mchunu’s inclusion in the group increases the size of Erasmus’ squad in Johannesburg to 44 players.

The Bok coach is set to name his travelling squad to Argentina for the Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday, 8 August, later in the week, with that group of players and management departing for Argentina in two groups on Saturday.

The remaining players will zoom in on the matches against New Zealand under the guidance of a few coaches, medical staff, and management members at their training base in Johannesburg.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

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South Africa will begin their preparations for the Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday, 8 August, and the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand, while releasing five players for their franchise matches against the All Blacks.

A total of 10 seasoned Springboks will make a welcome return from injuries which have sidelined them for a variety of periods, namely Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager (both locks), Franco Mostert (utility forward), Siya Kolisi (loose forward), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Handre Pollard (both flyhalves), Ethan Hooker, Canan Moodie (both utility backs), Andre Esterhuizen (flanker and centre), and Morne van den Berg (scrumhalf).

The five players who will be released to their franchises to face the All Blacks in the midweek matches of the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) series are Ntuthuko Mchunu (prop), Evan Roos (No 8), Andre-Hugo Venter (hooker), Embrose Papier (scrumhalf), and Jaco Williams (wing).

Ruben van Heerden (lock), who made his Test debut against Wales last Saturday, is the only player in the squad for the opening leg of the Nations Championship who was omitted from the two groups after making the move from the DHL Stormers to Montpellier, as he finds his feet with his new French club. He will, however, remain on standby for the team.

“We put a lot of thought into how we will manage the entire group of players to give everyone a chance to stake a claim for places in the squad for the RGR series, and we decided that splitting the squad into two groups will be best for the Springbok team and the players to play their way into the squad,” said Erasmus.

“Some players are returning from injury and need some valuable game time, so depending on how they progress from their injuries during next week’s training camp, we will decide who we will take to Argentina, while the other guys in the 43-man squad will remain behind in Johannesburg with a group of coaches and management to begin preparing for the Tests against New Zealand.

“The players released to their franchises, meanwhile, will also have an opportunity to face the All Blacks in their respective midweek games if they are selected, which will be invaluable for them once we decide on the final squad for RGR, so we see this as a win-win situation for the team and players.”

Erasmus added: “We are limited in the number of players we can take to Argentina, so it makes sense to give everyone a fair chance to compete for spots in the RGR squad, and some of the players who will train in Johannesburg will be in the final stages of their recovery from injuries, which will allow them to do so under the supervision of our medical team.

“Then there are other players who have played a lot of rugby this year and for us during the Nations Championship, and need a match off to allow their bodies to recover.”

Erasmus was wary of the challenge Argentina posed, given the fact that the teams have met annually in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, while the Pumas also had competitive Nations Championship Tests against Scotland and England, and defeated Wales.

“They are a quality team, and they have proved that in our previous clashes,” said Erasmus. “In fact, they defeated us in Argentina the last time we faced them there in 2024, so we know how tough it is to win there, and we intend to take a quality team to Buenos Aires.”

The Springboks have the week off to spend time with their families, with the 43-man squad set to assemble at their training base in Johannesburg on Sunday. They will train for a week before the travelling squad to Argentina departs for Buenos Aires in two groups the following Sunday and Monday to continue their on-field preparations for the match.

The Springboks will face the All Blacks in four RGR Tests – at Ellis Park in Johannesburg (22 August), the DHL Stadium in Cape Town (29 August), FNB Stadium in Johannesburg (5 September), and the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, USA (12 September).

Springbok squad to gather in Johannesburg on Sunday:

Props: Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux Begles), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).

Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears).

Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears).

Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon (both DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Vodacom Bulls).

Scrumhalves: Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers).

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls).

Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).

Outside and utility backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), Aphelele Fassi (Toshiba), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).

Players released to play for their franchises in RGR:

Forwards: Ntuthuko Mchunu, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter (all DHL Stormers).

Backs: Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Embrose Papier (Vodacom Bulls).

Standby: Ruben van Heerden (Montpellier).

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

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The SA U20s defeated France 16-5 after leading 6-0 at the halfway mark of this enthralling championship decider to successfully defend the title they won last year in Italy.

The Junior Boks overcame fierce French resistance in a pulsating final to lift their second title in a row, with Foote describing the triumph as an incredible proud moment for the team and the country.

“It means everything to us; it means everything to South Africa,” said Foote after the final.

“South Africa is a very special place and we are very lucky to represent our people. Right now, we’re just feeling incredibly grateful for the opportunity.”

The final was delayed by a lightning storm before kick-off, while France’s physical approach ensured the Junior Boks were pushed to the limit throughout the contest.

Foote credited his players for remaining calm under pressure and continuing to believe, even when momentum swung towards the French side.

“We knew France were big, physical and they just kept coming at us,” said the Junior Bok coach.

“We had to soak up a lot of pressure, but the story of this team has been that they never give up. We always felt that if we got our opportunity, we’d take it.”

Foote said the team’s leadership and defensive effort were among the most pleasing aspects of the victory, while he also credited the replacements for making a great impact: “The starting players had absorbed so much pressure and the fresh legs brought energy at a crucial time. That’s been a strength of this squad all season.”

SA U20 captain Siphosethu Mnebelele, who was part of last year’s successful campaign, said it was difficult to put into words what winning another world title meant.

“It feels seriously special,” said Mnebelele.

“This was a completely different team, different connections and a different journey. One thing about this team is that we just keep grinding it out because of the care we have for each other.

“We talk about giving love on defence, giving love on attack, and doing it for the guy next to you and for the people back home in South Africa. That’s what drove us throughout the tournament.”

Mnebelele also revealed how the squad remained focused during the lengthy weather delay before the match: “It was tough waiting because you prepare for a certain kick-off time and then suddenly you have to sit and wait. But this group is very adaptable. We made sure we stayed switched on, kept our energy up and remained focused on the job we had to do.”

For Mnebele, that spirit was evident even from the sidelines during the closing stages of the final.

“All you want is for the team to do well and succeed,” he said. “I was incredibly nervous watching, but I was so happy the boys managed to get the result. Now we’re going to celebrate together.”

The victory capped a remarkable campaign for the Junior Boks and secured South Africa a third U20 world crown following the success of 2012 and 2025. The Junior Boks will arrive back in the country on Monday morning.

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Erasmus said a squad of 26 would be sent to South America while a group of 15 or 16 players remained behind with some coaches to prepare for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against New Zealand in August and September.

“To get 43 points and to keep them to nil – we’re satisfied with that,” said Erasmus.

“Forty-three-nil was definitely better than last week – certainly defensively – but it’s easier to defend on a wet field like that – and we had no injuries, so that’s good.

“I think we’ve got a little bit better in every game of the Nations Championship but as we’ve been rotating it does take cohesion away.”

Erasmus said the conditions were deceptively difficult which led to a succession of handling errors: “We saw world-class players make a few knocks-on in this game. The field is really slippery, and you could feel it in the warm-up – that it was really greasy.

“It was tough to play an expansive, pretty game in weather like that against a team that really wanted to defend.

“But we didn’t lose a lineout ball and, while we weren’t on our game in the scrums last week, we were good today – our maul stopping and mauling itself was good. It was something that we wanted to get right so we had a lot of fixes that we got right.

“In this game we leant that our defence was better than last week – we worked really hard on that – and then our set piece was really solid. And I think some guys handled the pressure of test match rugby better than they did last week. I think a lot of guys came through this test with ticks against their name.”

Vusi Moyo – the youngest flyhalf in Springbok history at 20 years and 27 days – came through his baptism of fire as Erasmus continued working on Springbok depth.

“He definitely played well,” said Erasmus.

“You could see there were nerves. He’s a really accurate kicker; kicks off well but you get into a test match like this; with a lot of people in the crowd, the ball is wet and suddenly you don’t kick it into the corners and you don’t get your kick offs on the spot.

“I thought he handled it extremely well. But I’ve been there; in your first or second test you’re tried because of the nerves and I thought his tyres were a little pap (flat) in the second half when we took him off.”

Erasmus said Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu would be ready for the Argentina tour, although Handre Pollard had pulled his hamstring, as the coach looked ahead: “Argentina is going to be tough – like Wales they’ve had our number a few times and our biggest loss was to them since we’ve been together from 2018. We are just trying to build our game and I think today was another step forward.”

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The Springboks may have a good track record against Wales in recent years, but both Stick and Du Toit said previous results were insignificant going into this encounter. The match kicks off at 17h40 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

“I was there in 2016, 2017, and 2018 when there was a transition in our own system,” said Stick. “We’ve had challenges. In 2018, we had only a 50% winning ratio, but people look at us now and see a world-class team, and Wales are in that same space.

“One or two good results might change everything for them. Back in 2018, our focus was just to beat New Zealand in New Zealand, and then things turned around, and the belief grew.”

Stick added: “I don’t think we were at our best when it came to our kicking game and defence last week. So there’s a lot of room for improvement in how we’re operating as a team, and one of the biggest focus areas this week was the kicking game and how we defend together.

“Wales will probably look at that game and think that if they keep the ball in hand, they’ll pose challenges for us. That said, as long as we keep improving and making our people at home happy, that’s our biggest focus.”

Stick said the team wished to continue building momentum, while planning to build squad depth, with four debutantes in the team – Carlu Sadie (prop), Ruben van Heerden (lock), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf) and Jaco Williams (winger).

“If you look at the team we’ve selected, it tells you how we’re approaching this game,” said Stick.
“A lot of people focus on the debutantes getting their chance, but if you look at the players around them, they are all world-class, and some of them are double Rugby World Cup winners.

“Looking at Wales, they are a world-class team, and people sometimes forget that and focus on results. But we know them very well.
“If you don’t prepare well, they’ll punish you because they also have world-class players, and in my experience from the early days when I started coaching, we used to struggle and lose against them a lot.

“So on a good day for them, if you’re not at your best, it will be tough. We’ve prepared for this game with 100% respect, and that’s the same way we prepare for matches against teams like Ireland or New Zealand.”

Du Toit spoke equally highly of Wales and their loose forwards, saying players such as Jac Morgan and his colleagues were battle hardened and a fierce was expected at the breakdown.
“They have strong ball carriers and are very physical in defence, so we have to get the set pieces right,” said Du Toit.

“We also made some mistakes on defence last weekend, and we’ve tightened that up this week. I’m sure Wales will target those weaknesses, but I’m excited to see if we’ll be able to fix that.”

The duo also shared the excitement about the four debutantes, with Stick saying: “The guys who joined us this year came in open-minded and adapted really fast to how we want to play, how things are done here, how the system works, and what is expected of them.

“The intensity, excitement, and hunger they’ve brought is probably the most important thing. They are thrilled to play and put on the jersey, and for them to get the opportunity to play at Hollywoodbets Kings Park is an unbelievable privilege.”

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The final – in which the Junior Boks will aim to defend the title they won last year against New Zealand in Italy – kicks off at 18h30 SA time and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

For Mnebelele, the message on the eve of the JWC decider is simple : “We are well prepared for the final match, and we are all excited to represent South Africa in the final.”

The Junior Bok hooker, who is playing in his second JWC, echoed the sentiment of SA U20 coach Kevin Foote by stating that the players have kept their attention firmly on the task at hand.

“This is a new group, essentially, and our focus is only on the game and nothing else,” said Mnebelele. “Our focus is to be ready to take on a very good French side who have demonstrated their abilities by reaching the final.”

Throughout the tournament, the players have spoken repeatedly about growth, collective effort and remaining present in every challenge, and Ahmed pointed to the welcoming team environment and work ethic as a key factor behind the team’s march to the final.

“Our coaching staff and medical team have been awesome in preparing us, not only for this match, but for the entire time that we’ve been together,” the Junior Bok flyhalf said.

“They make it a really good environment for us, and all the boys are so focused and disciplined in their preparation and recovery.”

More than anything, Ahmed believes the strength of the squad lies in its unity and love to play for South Africa: “It is really a team effort every day that we spend together. Those who are not in the team help the coaches prepare the guys who are playing.

“We motivate and push each other, and we keep learning and improving with each session, whether that’s a training session or a technical meeting.

“We have 80 minutes left of this campaign, and we will give it our absolute best. Personally, I’m very grateful to be here as part of this group representing our country and the Junior Boks.”

It was also confirmed that the Junior Boks will wear black armbands on Saturday as a mark of respect and remembrance for former SA Under-18 prop Luqobo Makwedini who passed away on 10 July at the end of a training session with his French club, AS Béziers Hérault.

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The decider at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium kicks off at 18h30 (SA time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport. It will also mark the first time South Africa and France have met in the final of the global U20 tournament.

The Junior Boks produced a commanding second-half display to overcome England and secure a second consecutive appearance in the final, while France edged New Zealand in a tense semi-final courtesy of a late breakaway try.

Foote has made just two adjustments to his forward pack, both in the loose trio. Wasi Vyambwera starts at No 8, with Gert Kemp moving to the bench where he is expected to provide impact later in the contest. Risima Khosa will start at flanker.

The experienced front-row combination of Oliver Reid, SA U20 captain Siphosethu Mnebelele and Danie Kruger once again anchors the scrum, while Heinrich Theron and JD Hattingh continue their successful partnership in the second row. In the loose trio, Luke Cannon joins Khosa and Vyambwera, providing a balanced combination of physicality, work rate and attacking threat.

There is only one enforced change in the backline, with Alzeadon Felix coming in at fullback for Luan Giliomee, who received a red card in the semi-final.

The settled halfback combination of Hendre Schoeman and Yaqeen Ahmed will start, next to the midfield pairing of Ethan Adams and Markus Muller, while Khuthadzo Rashivago and Cheswill Jooste provide pace and finishing ability on the wings.

Samuel Badenhorst will join Kemp amongst the replacements as part of the Junior Boks’ bench, which features six forwards and two backs.

The Junior Boks, champions in 2025 after defeating New Zealand in last year’s final, will be aiming to become the first South African side to win back-to-back world titles.

Foote, who is in his second season at the helm of the Junior Boks, said the squad has used the week effectively to prepare for a formidable French outfit.

“This group has been together since the beginning of the year and they understand the way we want to play,” said Foote.

“We’ve used this week to sharpen our readiness and focus on the areas where we felt we could improve.

“The pleasing aspect of this group is their honesty and accountability. The players are open with each other in their assessments, and together we’ve identified solutions and worked hard on those areas. We believe we have prepared well for what will be a massive challenge.”

Foote praised the squad’s efforts throughout the tournament, crediting the entire group for earning a place in a second successive final: “The outstanding quality of this group is the bond they share and how much they enjoy representing South Africa. We still reviewing our game and know we have room to keep pushing to get better.

“France are a very formidable side and fully deserve their place in the final. Their performances in the recent JWC and the Six Nations show that they understand how to perform when playing knockout rugby.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s encounter, Foote said the Junior Boks would remain true to their identity while ensuring they are tactically disciplined.

“We want to continue playing the South African way,” he said. “That means using our physicality to create momentum, winning the gain-line battle and playing with tempo and intensity.

“Our set piece will be important in providing a solid platform, but we will also need to be smart and accurate, particularly on defence. Our preparations have gone extremely well. The players have clarity around our game model, they have confidence in one another, and there is genuine excitement about the opportunity that lies ahead.”

Junior Springbok team to face France in Tbilisi:
15 Alzeadon Felix (Fidelity Securedrive Lions)
14 Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls)
13 Markus Muller (DHL Stormers)
12 Ethan Adams (Fidelity Securedrive Lions)
11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
10 Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Stormers)
9 Hendré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls)
8 Wasi Vyambwera (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
7 Luke Cannon (Fidelity Securedrive Lions)
6 Risima Khosa (Fidelity Securedrive Lions)
5 JD Hattingh (Fidelity Securedrive Lions)
4 Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Buls)
3 Danie Kruger (DHL Stormers)
2 Siphosethu Mnebelele (captain, Vodacom Bulls)
1 Oliver Reid (DHL Stormers)

Replacements:
16 Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
17 Rambo Kubheka (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
18 Luan van der Berg (Vodacom Bulls)
19 Jaythen Orange (Fidelity Securedrive Lions)
20 Thomas Beling (Fidelity Securedrive Lions)
21 Gert Kemp (DHL Stormers)
22 Jayden Brits (DHL Stormers)
23 Samuel Badenhorst (DHL Stormers)

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The Junior Boks trailed 20-12 at half-time after England made a strong start and placed them under pressure in a fiercely contested semi-final, but a much-improved second-half display saw the SA U20s take control of the match and secure a memorable 53-37 victory.

Mthethwa, the team’s attack coach, said the coaching staff were pleased with the way the players absorbed England’s early pressure before responding with greater precision after the break.

“We knew the first half was going to be very, very tough,” said Mthethwa.

“They had a plan and they tried to stop us, and they did that very well. Credit to the boys – they handled that well.”

According to Mthethwa, the message at half-time was clear and measured, with the Junior Bok coaches encouraging the players to trust their preparation and stay accurate rather than chase the game.

“At half-time we identified a few opportunities we needed to take,” he explained. “In the second half we were able to take control and those opportunities, which was great.”

Mthethwa said the players’ ability to remain calm under scoreboard pressure was one of the most pleasing aspects of the performance: “We spoke about our detail and accuracy, and the guys responded very well.”

That belief was reflected in a strong second-half performance, with Khuthadzo Rasivhaga scoring three tries as South Africa turned pressure into points.

The Junior Bok wing said they had expected England to come hard at them early and knew they had to stay in the contest.

“We spoke about it during the week and we knew England were going to come hard in that first 40 minutes,” said Rasivhaga.

“We had to contain them and stay in the fight, kept backing ourselves and stayed patient. We weren’t as accurate as we wanted to be in the first half, but we started the second half much better, and we took our opportunities.”

Despite his scoring heroics, Rasivhaga was quick to credit the work of the pack and the collective effort that allowed the Junior Boks to find space and finish their opportunities: “The forwards did a fantastic job. We’ve worked hard together during the week, and they did exactly what was required. They gave us good ball and created the platform for us to play.”

The Junior Bok enjoyed a training free day on Tuesday, participating in a World Rugby coaching clinic with children from local clubs. They will resume training on Wednesday in their build-up towards Saturday’s final against France.

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The Junior Boks were tested throughout this thrilling encounter in the Georgian capital and England led 20-12 at the break, but once again found a way to lift their intensity when it mattered most, producing a composed second-half performance to book a place in Saturday’s decider against France courtesy of a 53-37 semi-final victory.

Foote said the key message at half-time was for the team to remain calm, stick to their structures and continue building pressure.

“At half-time, it was really about us looking after the ball a little better and making sure we could keep applying pressure on England consistently,” said Foote.

“England showed the spirit we expected from them and there were times when we probably started a little slowly again. The conditions weren’t easy and perhaps didn’t suit the style of rugby we always want to play, but what pleased us most was the maturity the players showed.

“They went back after half-time, stuck to our processes and executed very well in the second half.”

The Junior Springbok victory was once more built on another tireless effort from the pack, who laid the foundation up front while creating opportunities for the exciting attacking threats out wide.

Foote praised the work ethic and leadership displayed by his forwards throughout the tournament campaign: “The forwards have worked incredibly hard since this group first came together, and players in our leadership group have really stepped up, but all our forwards are putting in a huge amount of hard work.

“This was our fourth game in three weeks, so everyone is feeling it physically. The fact that they keep going and keep pushing is very impressive.”

As has been the case throughout the tournament, the Junior Bok bench again played a decisive role, maintaining the intensity and ensuring there was no drop-off when the replacements entered the fray.

Foote highlighted the value of a squad that has embraced every opportunity, regardless of playing time.

“The bench made a massive contribution,” said Foote.

“We’ve spoken throughout the tournament about the importance of the entire squad. Some players have had to wait patiently for their opportunities, but when they come on, they make a real impact.

“We have a very talented squad with great depth, and we are fortunate to be working with a group that has that quality. When the replacements come on, they really lift the team.”

The Junior Boks now turn their attention to France, who edged New Zealand 26-22 in the first semi-final to set up a mouth-watering clash on Saturday. The French arrive in the final as Six Nations champions – a fact not lost on the Junior Bok coach.

“France have been outstanding,” he said. “Against New Zealand they worked hard, stayed in the fight right until the end and showed tremendous spirit. They’re also the Six Nations champions, so we know they’re going to be a huge challenge.

“For us, it’s about recovering well, enjoying the opportunity to spend another week together as a group, and then looking forward to the final.”

While the Junior Boks played all their matches so far at the Avchala Stadium, the JWC final will take place at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, where kick-off is scheduled for 18h30 on Saturday evening.

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Erasmus struck a fine balance between naming a strong team, while staying true to his word to give every player in his expanded squad a chance to prove what they could do at the highest level of the game in his match-day squad, which also features Andre Hugo-Venter (hooker), Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalf) on the replacements bench.

Moyo and Williams will both have the honour of making their Test debuts at their home ground for the Hollywoodbets Sharks, alongside the tight forward duo of Van Heerden, who has left the DHL Stormers for France, and Sadie, who plays for Investec Champions Cup champions Bordeaux Begles.

Venter, meanwhile, will earn his second Test cap should he take the field off the replacements bench after making his debut in 2024 against Portugal, while Jantjies last played in the green and gold jersey against Argentina in 2023.

Eben Etzebeth (lock), Franco Mostert (utility forward), Andre Esterhuizen (centre and flanker), Canan Moodie (utility back), Handre Pollard (flyhalf), and Ox Nche (prop) were all unavailable for selection as they continue to recover from injuries.

Moyo will dictate play from flyhalf alongside experienced scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, while Williams will form an exciting back three with fellow wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and fullback Aphelele Fassi, with Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel manning the midfield.

In the forward pack, Sadie will pack down in the front row with Gerhard Steenekamp and Malcolm Marx, with Van Heerden and Cobus Wiese steering the engine room, while Paul de Villiers, Pieter-Steph du Toit (who will again lead the team), and Jasper Wiese forming the loose trio combination.

Erasmus opted for five forwards and three backs on the bench, where Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, and Wilco Louw will serve as the replacement front row, and Ben-Jason Dixon and Marco van Staden will provide lock and loose forward cover, respectively.

The three backs on the bench are Jantjies, Manie Libbok (flyhalf), and Damian Willemse (utility back).

“We told the players from the start of the season that if everything played out well, we would give everyone in the squad a chance to play in the competition, and we are excited to see what the uncapped players, as well as those who have not been in the mix for a while, bring to the team,” said Erasmus.

“This squad shows an exciting mix of youth and experience, and while we are under no illusions about the threat Wales poses, we are looking forward to seeing what these players can do.

“Wales put up a good fight in their Six Nations matches against Scotland and Ireland, and they defeated Italy in their final match of the tournament. They also beat Fiji in the Nations Championship before going down against Argentina in a competitive match last week, so they are on the rise and will come out with a point to prove this weekend.”

The Bok coach was thrilled to see the four uncapped players get their opportunity to play and said: “They all played very well for their franchises this season, and have been working extremely hard at training, while waiting patiently for a chance to play, so we are delighted for them.

“Building squad depth has always been one of our pillars since 2018, and to have such an exciting group of players coming through is fantastic as we continue to build our squad for the future.

“We have full faith in their abilities, and I’m sure the senior guys around them will assist in keeping them calm on the field, so they can show the talent that earned them a place in the squad. Hopefully, we can make it a memorable occasion for them and our loyal supporters this weekend.”

Springbok team to face Wales in Durban:
15 Aphelele Fassi (Toshiba) – 16 caps, 35 pts (7t)
14 Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – uncapped
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 89 caps, 110 pts (22t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 98 caps, 55 pts (11t)
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars) – 31 caps, 120 pts (24t)
10 Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – uncapped
9 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 51 caps, 95 pts (19t)
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 45 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain, Toyota Verblitz) – 97 caps, 70 pts (14t)
6 Paul de Villiers (DHL Stormers) – 2 cap, 0 pts
5 Ruben van Heerden (Montpellier) – uncapped
4 Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 0 pts
3 Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux Begles) – uncapped
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 88 caps, 135 pts (27t)
1 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 17 caps, 10 pts (2t)

Replacements:
16 Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers) – 1 cap, 5 pts (1 t)
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 11 caps, 10 pts (2t)
18 Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers) – 30 caps, 10 pts (2t)
19 Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers) – 9 caps, 10 pts (2t)
20 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 34 caps, 15 pts (3t)
21 Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne) – 24 caps, 25 pts (5t)
22 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 29 caps, 145 pts (2t, 48c, 13p)
23 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 51 caps, 76 pts (8t, 9c, 4p, 2dg)

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

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