Experienced lock Eben Etzebeth was on Wednesday named as Springbok captain for Saturday’s first Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Australia in Johannesburg, while Rynhardt Elstadt (loose forward) and Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalf) will both make their Test debuts on the Highveld.
The game is the first in the Springboks’ shortened 2019 Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign, which also consists of away matches against New Zealand and Argentina. Kick-off on Saturday is at 17h05 and the match will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Etzebeth takes over the captaincy from regular skipper Siya Kolisi, who is recovering from a knee injury, while Aphiwe Dyantyi was also not considered for selection because of a hamstring injury. It will be Etzebeth’s 12th Test as Bok captain.
The Springbok team to Australia in Johannesburg:
15. Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), 5 caps - 5 points (1 try)
14. Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 20 (4t)
13. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 40 - 60 (12t)
12. André Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 0
11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), 4 - 20 (4t)
10. Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), 33 - 229 (2t, 42c, 45p)
9. Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), uncapped
8. Francois Louw (Bath, England), 65 - 45 (9t)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 46 - 20 (4t)
6. Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), uncapped
5. Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls), 38 - 20 (4t)
4. Eben Etzebeth (captain, DHL Stormers), 75 - 15 (3t)
3. Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), 37 - 5 (1t)
2. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 26 - 15 (3t)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 107 - 10 (2t)
Replacements:
16. Schalk Brits (Vodacom Bulls), 11 - 5 (1t)
17. Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls), uncapped
18. Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), 13 - 0
19. Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), 1 - 0
20. Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), 28 - 30 (6t)
21. Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), 10 - 10 (2t)
22. Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France), 56 - 132 (10t, 5c, 21p, 3d)
23. Dillyn Leyds (DHL Stormers), 9 - 5 (1t)
