Bongi Mbonambi and Ntuthuko Mchunu will join the Springboks in Ireland on Sunday as national coach Rassie Erasmus and his coaching team prepare for their final two clashes of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour, against Ireland and Wales.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and coach Rassie Erasmus praised the team’s fighting spirit to beat Italy in their Castle Lager Outgoing Tour Test at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Saturday, despite receiving an early red card for the second week in a row, and said they are doing everything they can to avoid losing players on the field due to mistakes.
The Springboks had to dig deep to secure a 32-14 victory over Italy at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named a new-look starting team for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour Test against Italy at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Saturday, which will again be led by inspirational captain Siya Kolisi, with the Bok coach making 11 changes to his run-on side and one on the replacements bench from last week’s 32-17 victory against France.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Siya Kolisi thanked the South African fans for their passionate support, as well as the coaching staff for the plans they made and the team for their gutsy effort as they both celebrated significant career milestones with a victory against France in Paris.
Siya Kolisi will become the ninth Springbok centurion when he leads South Africa out against France at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, with Bok coach Rassie Erasmus – who will guide the side in his 50th Test as head coach – making six personnel changes to the side that defeated Japan last week.
Rassie Erasmus lauded his team for their physicality, intensity, and the respect they showed Japan as they registered an emphatic 61-7 victory at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday, and although the Springbok coach was pleasantly surprised with the result, he said the next few weeks would pose completely different challenges.
Former Junior Springbok captain Zachary Porthen will make his Springbok debut against Japan at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday as Bok coach Rassie Erasmus named a largely settled match-23 for the opening match of the November Internationals.
Japan coach Eddie Jones is confident that his side can secure an iconic win against the Springboks on Saturday.
Former Junior Springbok prop and captain Zachary Porthen earned his first Springbok call-up as national coach Rassie Erasmus named a quality 36-man squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour in November, which features four players who will return to the Bok set-up for the first time this season.