Willie le Roux and Cheslin Kolbe are among a contingent of World Cup winners recalled by the Springboks for the first Test against Ireland in Pretoria on Saturday.
Rassie Erasmus named an experienced squad featuring 20 Rugby World Cup-winners – the entire starting 15 and five players on the replacements’ bench – for their opening Incoming Series Test against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld.
Twelve of the starting XV for Saturday’s showdown (six forwards and six backs) started in the 12-11 World Cup final victory over New Zealand, with the other three (Le Roux, Kwagga Smith and Ox Nche) coming off the bench in the final.
The selection of previously unavailable players means that the team shows eight changes to the one that defeated Wales by 41-13 in London 10 days ago as Erasmus welcomed back captain Siya Kolisi, Le Roux, Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handre Pollard, Marco van Staden and RG Snyman.
The three players in the match-day 23 who did not participate in the international spectacle in France, where the Springboks claimed their second successive title, are Gerhard Steenekamp (loosehead prop), Salmaan Moerat (lock) and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (utility back), who are elevated to a selection featuring a six-two bench split.
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs; 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
The post Boks recall World Cup stars for series opener appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
