Kwagga returns to the squad, as Springboks starting lineup revealed

The Springboks squad set to face the Wallabies has been formally announced, with a wealth of familiar faces returning to the starting XV.

Beloved local rugby legend Kwagga Smith returns to the fold as a substitute, with the industrious utility forward inching ever closer to 50 caps for his country.

In his stead, the young and able Elrigh Louw has been included in the starting lineup for the first time, with Rassie Erasmus having chosen the Blue Bulls star as South Africa’s number eight after impressing against Portugal in Bloemfontein.

More notably, the 22-year-old Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has also been given the nod at flyhalf, in what is to be his first test start for the Bokke.

A decision which proves that Rassie and his staff have one eye on the 2027 World Cup, with the ageing Handré Pollard dropped to the bench in favour of youthful inexperience.

There will be no better opportunity to put one’s feet to the fire than a clash against Australia in Brisbane.

Despite years of mediocrity plaguing the lads from down under, the Wallabies are hoping that the appointment of New Zealander Joe Schmidt will calm troubled waters and build a foundation for success that can be carried into the upcoming World Cup, which will be hosted by the Australians.

Schmidt’s reign has been successful thus far, securing two hard-fought victories against Wales and another win versus Georgia.

But the Springboks are a daunting task for everyone and anyone who doesn’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Australia does have a favourable head-to-head record facing the world champions, having defeated them in three of their last five outings, but the Boks have emerged on top in the two most recent clashes.

‘The Cauldron’ will play host to the battle this Saturday, with kick-off set at 06:30, so make sure to switch your beer and braai to coffee and cereal, as the country will look to back our Bokke, regardless of time zone.

Here is the South African starting lineup:

15 – Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 95 caps
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 33 caps
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 71 caps
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 81 caps
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 18 caps
10 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 4 caps
9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 33 caps
8 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 79 caps
6 – Siya Kolisi (Captain, Racing 92) – 85 caps
5 – RG Snyman (Leinster) – 37 caps
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 122 caps
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 72 caps
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 71 caps
1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 31 caps

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 67 caps
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 52 caps
19 – Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers) – 2 caps
20 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 20 caps
21 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 43 caps
22 – Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 11 caps
23 – Handré Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 71 caps

Source: The Citizen