South Africa name two debutants in team to face Wales

South Africa line up against Wales during 2023 Summer Internationals South Africa tackle Wales at Twickenham on Saturday (David Davies/PA)

Wing Edwill van der Merwe and fly-half Jordan Hendrikse will make their Test debuts when South Africa tackle Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.

But Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has also selected several World Cup winners, with captain Pieter-Steph du Toit, lock Eben Etzebeth and scrum-half Faf de Klerk among those starting.

South Africa are without players from the Bulls due to their appearance in the United Rugby Championship final against Glasgow in Pretoria on Saturday, while star backs Cheslin Kolbe and Lukhanyo Am are absent because of injuries.

Erasmus, though, is still able to name a powerful starting line-up as the Springboks target a sixth victory in the last seven Tests against Wales.

“We knew what challenges we would face in selecting the squad for this training camp and the Wales Test, but as a team we turned it into a fantastic opportunity to blood a few youngsters and expose them to the national set-up,” Erasmus said.

“Building squad depth is one of our key pillars as a team, and this camp and Test match, as well as the one coming up against Portugal in Bloemfontein, will allow us to tick that box with an eye on the next few years.”



South Africa team to play Wales

Forwards: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Vincent Koch, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Captain), 8 Evan Roos

Backs: 9 Faf de Klerk, 10 Jordan Hendrikse*, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Edwill van der Merwe*, 15 Aphelele Fassi

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon*, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu*, 23 Damian de Allende

* Denotes uncapped player

More Autumn Internationals Rugby News >