Kwagga Smith will start at eighth-man in the Springboks’ second Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies in Cape Town on Saturday, following the withdrawal of Jean-Luc du Preez due to illness.
Du Preez, who would have made his first Bok start in seven years, fell ill earlier today and has not recovered in time to play, prompting Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus to draft Smith straight into the starting line-up.
The Springboks’ hybrid, Andre Esterhuizen, comes onto the bench to provide loose forward cover.
PREDICTION
South Africa to win by nine points
TEAMS
SOUTH AFRICA (REVISED)
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 RG Snyman,3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Lood de Jager, 21 Andre Esterhuizen, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
AUSTRALIA
15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Akuso Suaalii, 12 Len Iketau, 11 Corey Toole, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andrew Kellaway.
Date: Saturday, 23 August
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Kick-off: 17:10
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Richard Kelly (Australia)
DOES THE WITHDRAWAL OF WILLIE LE ROUX STRENGTHEN OR WEAKEN THE SPRINGBOKS?
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