SARugbyMag
SA Rugby has announced experienced Springbok, Duane Vermeulen, as the Captain for the opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Former Ireland international lock Jean Kleyn will earn his first Springbok Test cap, while flyhalf Manie Libbok and loose forward Marco van Staden also make their first starts.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber also named 14 players who will leave for New Zealand on Tuesday to acclimatise and maximise the chances of performing well in the first two Tests, which are separated by seven days, and 12 000km and 10 time zones.
Vermeulen takes over the captain’s armband from the injured Siya Kolisi and forms a powerful loose trio with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marco Van Staden.
Nienaber selected a front row featuring props Frans Malherbe and Ox Nche, and hooker Bongi Mbonambi. Kleyn partners Marvin Orie at lock.
“Vodacom Bull's wingers Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse will play in front of their home fans with experienced fullback Willie le Roux serving as the last line of defence at fullback while Lukhanyo Am returns for the first time since August to renew a former Cell C Sharks provincial partnership with Andre Esterhuizen.”
Cobus Reinach will make his first start since the final match of the 2021 season at scrumhalf.
Flyhalf Elton Jantjies, prop Trevor Nyakane, and scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies will remain with the team to assist in their preparations for Saturday’s season-opener and to provide cover if necessary, meaning the coaches will have a group of 26 players to work with this week.
“Our plan from the outset was to select a squad that we believe has what it takes to beat Australia while at the same time selecting a group of players that could travel to New Zealand to give us the best possible chance to do well in both matches,” said Nienaber.
“Our last Castle Lager Rugby Championship match is in Johannesburg and then we’ll be able to select a squad from our full complement of players.
