New Springboks captain as Rassie Erasmus makes mass changes for Wallabies

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made 13 changes to the starting side that defeated the All Blacks in Baltimore earlier this month, with Andre Esterhuizen set to captain the side for the first time against the Wallabies in Perth.

Erasmus has made mass changes to the side that secured a 3-1 series win in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, with Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker retaining their spots in an otherwise new-look run-on side for the one-off Test.

Hooker has been retained on one wing, with Edwill van der Merwe and Aphelele Fassi rounding out the back three. Esterhuizen will become the 68^th Springboks captain, linking up with backline utility Canan Moodie in the centres.

Herschel Jantjies has been selected at scrum-half, while Handre Pollard start at fly-half. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will provide cover off the bench, with more than 330 Test caps between the replacements.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels will pack down up front alongside hooker Johan Grobbelaar and tighthead prop Zachary Porthean. 146-Test veteran ben Etzebeth will combine with Franco Mostert in an experienced second-row combination.

Paul de Villiers has earned a start at blindside flanker, with Elrigh Louw getting a run at openside flanker. Marco van Staden rounds out the backrow, while Jasper Wiese is in line for his 50^th Test appearance from the bench.

“We’ve been working closely with our Head of Athletic Performance Andy Edwards on how best to manage the players to get the most out of them in this important encounter, so we had a few days off for the players’ bodies to recover from the last few Tests and also from the travel, so we had two days of training in Terrigal and resumed our usual Test week programme on Tuesday,” Erasmus said.

“This is going to be a big challenge against a team that has been playing good rugby, and who have won four of their last five matches, with their other result being a draw against the Pumas in Argentina.

“They also suffered a narrow defeat against Ireland in the Nations Championship and registered a comprehensive victory over Italy, and they will be playing in front of their home crowd, so we know a big game lies ahead.

“They are a proud nation and will certainly want to continue building momentum going into their next two clashes against the All Blacks and the second leg of the Nations Championship in November, so they are going to throw everything at us. Adding to that, they have physical forwards and a very exciting backline, so it will take another big performance from us to get the result.”

Springboks to take on Wallabies in Perth

1. Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 14 caps, 10 pts (2t)
2. Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 caps, 0 pts
3. Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers) – 7 caps, 5 pts (1t)
4. Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 146 caps, 45 pts (9t)
5. Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 84 caps, 20 pts (4t)
6. Paul de Villiers (DHL Stormers) – 4 caps, 5 pts (1t)
7. Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 15 caps, 10 pts (2t)
8. Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 37 caps, 20 pts (4t)
9. Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne) – 25 caps, 30 pts (6t)
10. Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) – 87 caps, 832 pts (8t, 130c, 175p, 5dg)
11. Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 13 caps, 10 pts (2t)
12. Andre Esterhuizen (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 35 caps, 30 pts (6t)
13. Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 25 caps, 45 pts (9t)
14. Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 7 caps, 30 pts (6t)
15. Aphelele Fassi (Toshiba) – 18 caps, 35 pts (7t)

Replacements

16. Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 93 caps, 145 pts (29t)

17. Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 52 caps, 0 pts

18. Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers) – 35 caps, 10 pts (2t)

19. Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 77 caps, 25 pts (5t)

20. Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 49 caps, 20 pts (4t)

21. Morne van den Berg (10bet Lions) – 10 caps, 32 pts (6t, 1c)

22. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 24 caps, 191 pts (9t, 48c, 15p)

23. Quan Horn (10Bet Lions) – 2 caps, 7 pts (1t, 1c)