Rassie names strong Springbok team for Italy Test

The only player in the Springbok matchday 23 – named on Monday – who will make his first appearance in the green and gold jersey this season is lock Salmaan Moerat, who missed the first leg of the Nations Championship and the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series due to neck and toe injuries.

Moerat will partner up with the hard-working Ruan Nortje in the engine room in a physical forward pack, which features the front row of Ox Nche, Thomas du Toit, and Malcolm Marx, while captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese will pack down behind them in the loose trio.

The Bok backline is equally settled, with halfbacks Morne van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu set to dictate play, alongside the experienced midfield pairing of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, while Ethan Hooker, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Damian Willemse will form an exciting back three.

Erasmus opted for a split of six forwards and two backs on the replacements bench. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Wilco Louw will serve as the back-up front row, with Lood de Jager providing lock cover, and Cameron Hanekom and Paul de Villiers completing the forward complement, while Grant Williams and Manie Libbok will provide backline support.

The Springboks currently top the Southern Hemisphere standings, tied on 15 points with New Zealand, but in the number one spot because of a better points’ difference.

The team will travel to Paris next to face France (Friday, 13 November) and then Dublin where they will meet Ireland (Saturday, 21 November) in their final pool match before the Finals Weekend, which concludes on Sunday, 29 November.

Kick off is at 13:40 (SA time).

Springbok team to face Italy in Turin:

15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 55 caps, 76 pts (8t, 9c, 4p, 2dg)
14 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars) – 35 caps, 135 pts (27t)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 94 caps, 125 pts (25t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 103 caps, 65 pts (13t)
11 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 14 caps, 10 pts (2t)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 25 caps, 195 pts (9t, 50c, 15p)
9 Morne van den Berg (10bet Lions) – 11 caps, 37 pts (7t, 1c)

8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 50 caps, 20 pts (4t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 102 caps, 75 pts (15t)
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, DHL Stormers) – 107 caps, 75 pts (15t)
5 Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears) – 24 caps, 5 pts (1t)
4 Salmaan Moerat (Stade Rochelais) – 11 caps, 0 pts
3 Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 37 caps, 10 pts (2t)
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 94 caps, 145 pts (29t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 53 caps, 5 pts (1t)

Replacements:
16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 15 caps, 10 pts (2t)
17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 23 caps, 10 pts (2t)
18 Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers) – 36 caps, 10 pts (2t)
19 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 78 caps, 25 pts (5t)
20 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) – 6 caps, 10 pts (2t)
21 Paul de Villiers (DHL Stormers) – 5 cap, 5 pts (1t)
22 Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers) – 31 caps, 40 pts (8t)
23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 34 caps, 149 pts (2t, 50c, 13p)

Record against Italy

Played 19; Won 18; Lost 1; Points for: 883, Points against: 233; Tries scored 117, Tries conceded 21; Highest score 101-0; Biggest win 101 points. Win % 94,7%