Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named as many as six Hollywoodbets Sharks players in his starting XV to take on Australia in round one of the Rugby Championship at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
Hollywoodbets Kings Park-based Aphelele Fassi (fullback), Andre Esterhuizen (inside centre), Grant Williams (scrumhalf), Siya Kolisi (eighthman), Eben Etzebeth (lock) and Ox Nche (loosehead prop) are all included in Erasmus’ run-on XV, with hooker Bongi Mbonambi forming part of the Bomb Squad.
The class of 2025, who are looking to become the first Bok side to successfully defend a Rugby Championship/ Tri Nations title, are in for a testing campaign which includes facing the All Blacks at Eden Park in round three. With that in mind, a fast start against the Wallabies is imperative for the back-to-back World Cup-winners.
“We’ve been experimenting with player combinations during the Castle Lager Incoming Series and at our conditioning camp in the last two weeks, and we believe this team will allow us to play the type of rugby we want to play against Australia,” said Erasmus.
“The Wallabies will be determined to change their win record against us in the last three seasons, so they’ll come out guns blazing, and we are confident that the players we selected will be up for the challenge.
“All of the starters except for Edwill [van der Merwe] have faced them before, and we are confident that he is ready for this challenge.”
With Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe struggling with injury, Erasmus has opted to provide Esterhuizen and van der Merwe with starting opportunities instead.
“Damian picked up a back niggle in the last two weeks and will train again this week, but Andre has been strong for us in the last few seasons, so it was an easy decision to name him alongside Jesse in the midfield.”
“Cheslin has also recovered from a niggle and trained with us last week, but we decided to exercise caution and give him extra time at training before selecting him. Edwill has been in good form this season, and it will be good to see what he brings in this match.”
Australia head into this two-Test tour of the Republic battle-hardened following their intense 2-1 series defeat to the British & Irish Lions.
With many, including former Wallabies front ranker Jeremy Paul, expecting Joe Schmidt’s men to upset the hosts, Kolisi’s team should be taking nothing for granted despite the visitors’ lowly sixth-placed world ranking.
Said the Bok boss: “Australia showed that they are on the right trajectory in their last two matches against the British & Irish Lions and we have no doubt they will enter this match with confidence and determined to build on those performances.
“They are a physical and well-coached team, and we’ll certainly not underestimate how much those performances, combined with their motivation to bounce back strongly against us after the last few results between the teams, and win their first match ever at Ellis Park, will inspire them.
“That said, we have also been working hard to keep building on our game and improve, and we believe our two-week conditioning camp has placed us in the right frame of mind for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. So hopefully we can transfer that hard work into our game to place ourselves in a good position to defend the title.”
Springbok matchday squad
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams; 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie, Damian Willemse.
