Springboks call-up late replacement as Wessels withdrawn

Springboks prop Boan Venter has been drafted onto the bench for Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener against Australia after Jan-Hendrik Wessels was ruled out through injury.

The 27-year-old, who made his Test debut against Georgia during the July series, replaces Wessels as front-row cover after the latter suffered a training niggle on Wednesday.

Venter will back up alongside Bongi Mbonambi and Asenathi Ntlabakanye in Johannesburg, where he will make his first Rugby Championship appearance and his first Test against the Wallabies.

The Edinburgh loosehead’s Bok appearacnes this summer capped a notable change in course for his international career. Venter, who has spent the past three seasons in Scotland, was previously on track to qualify for Gregor Townsend’s side under residency rules. That ambition ended when he instead returned to the Bok fold this summer, earning a cap in the win over Georgia.

Updated Springboks team:
1. Ox Nche
2. Malcolm Marx
3. Wilco Louw
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Lood de Jager
6. Marco van Staden
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
8. Siya Kolisi (captain)
9. Grant Williams
10. Manie Libbok
11. Kurt-Lee Arendse
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Jesse Kriel
14. Edwill van der Merwe
15. Aphelele Fassi

Replacements:
16. Bongi Mbonambi
17. Boan Venter
18. Asenathi Ntlabakanye
19. Franco Mostert
20. Kwagga Smith
21. Cobus Reinach
22. Canan Moodie
23. Damian Willemse