SA Rugby
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has named a new-look front row for Saturday's Test against France in Marseille which kicks off at 22h00 SA time.
Tighthead prop Frans Malherbe packs down next to Ox Nche (prop) and Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), while Franco Mostert makes the jump from the bench to the starting lineup to fill the void left by injured lock Lood de Jager.
Former SA Under-20 flyhalf Manie Libbok has been included on the bench in a team showing five changes and two positional switches from the side that lost to Ireland last weekend.
Willie le Roux will slot back into the starting team at fullback, which sees Cheslin Kolbe move to the right wing and Kurt-Lee Arendse to the left wing, while Makazole Mapimpi has been named among the replacements.
The other change in the backline sees Faf de Klerk start at scrumhalf in place of Jaden Hendrikse.
Other changes amongst the replacements include Cobus Reinach, who will provide cover at scrumhalf, as well as Steven Kitshoff (prop), Malcolm Marx (hooker) and Marvin Orie (lock). Nienaber opted for a split of five forwards and three backs on the bench for this Test.
Springbok team to face France in Marseille:
15 - Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) - 80 caps, 65 pts (13t)
14 - Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon) - 21 caps, 53 pts (10t, 1p)
13 - Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) - 57 caps, 60 pts (12t)
12 - Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) - 67 caps, 45 pts (9t)
11 - Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) - 4 caps, 15 pts (3t)
10 - Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) - 24 caps, 22 pts (1t, 4c, 3p)
9 - Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) - 43 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 - Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) - 19 caps, 5 pts (1t)
7 - Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) - 65 caps, 15 pts (3t)
6 - Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) - 72 caps, 40 pts (8t)
5 - Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) - 60 caps, 15 pts (3t)
4 - Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) - 107 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 - Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) - 55 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 - Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) - 53 caps, 55 pts (11t)
1 - Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks) - 16 caps, 0 pts
Replacements:
16 - Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) - 56 caps, 65 pts (13t)
17 - Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) - 68 caps, 5 pts (1t)
18 - Vincent Koch (unattached) - 39 caps, 0 pts
19 - Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers) - 8 caps, 0 pts
20 - Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) - 28 caps, 15 pts (3t)
21 - Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) - 22 caps, 40 pts (8t)
22 - Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) - uncapped
23 - Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) - 34 caps, 110 pts (22t)
