Springboks vs Australia: Erasmus elated about giving Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Louw first starts
Of the 23 players selected, only three didn’t feature in the drawn series with Ireland in July: loose forward Elrigh Louw who starts his first international at number 8, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and replacement utility forward Ben-Jason Dixon.
Rassie Erasmus is confirmed as the Springbok head coach. Picture: @Springboks/X.
JOHANNESBURG - Springboks' coach Rassie Erasmus has named his squad to play Australia in the Rugby Championship opener in Brisbane on Saturday.
In somewhat of a surprise, Erasmus named the mercurial Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to start his first Test match at flyhalf, ahead of double Rugby World Cup winner Handre Pollard, who was named amongst the substitutes.
Of the 23 players selected, only three didn’t feature in the drawn series with Ireland in July: loose forward Elrigh Louw who starts his first international at number 8, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and replacement utility forward Ben-Jason Dixon.
Erasmus was delighted to hand first starts to Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Louw.
“Sacha has made a notable impact off the bench in all four Tests he has played so far, and he’s slotted into the system with ease, so we are excited to see what dynamic he adds to the team as a starter,” said the Springboks' coach.
Erasmus has given lock RG Snyman a starting berth in the absence of the injured Franco Mostert but revealed that he had picked up a niggle at training on Tuesday, and will be monitored for the rest of the week.
Erasmus opted for a 6-2 split on the bench with a front row of Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp and Vincent Koch, alongside Dixon, Marco van Staden and Kwagga Smith while Pollard and scrumhalf Grant Williams will provide backline cover.
The match kicks off at 06:45pm South African time.
SPRINGBOK TEAM TO FACE AUSTRALIA IN BRISBANE:
15 – Willie le Roux
14 – Cheslin Kolbe
13 – Jesse Kriel
12 – Damian de Allende
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse
10 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
9 – Cobus Reinach
8 – Elrigh Louw
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain)
5 – RG Snyman
4 – Eben Etzebeth
3 – Frans Malherbe
2 – Bongi Mbonambi
1 – Ox Nche
REPLACEMENTS:
16 – Malcolm Marx
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp
18 – Vincent Koch
19 – Ben-Jason Dixon
20 – Marco van Staden
21 – Kwagga Smith
22 – Grant Williams
23 – Handré Pollard