Bok team for Wales

Re News 24

Cape Town - Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain a young Springbok team featuring seven uncapped players in the starting line-up against Wales on Saturday evening (SA time) in Washington DC. 

Du Toit (lock) will lead South Africa for the first time when they take on the Welsh in this once-off international, which falls outside the Test window. 

The seven players in the starting team who will be making their debut in the United States capital are Travis Ismaiel and Makazole Mapimpi (wings), Andre Esterhuizen (centre), Ivan van Zyl (scrumhalf), Kwagga Smith (flank), Jason Jenkins (lock) and Ox Nche (prop). 

A further six players with no Test experience were included on the bench, namely Akker van der Merwe (hooker), Thomas du Toit (prop), Marvin Orie (lock), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (loose forward), Embrose Papier (scrumhalf) and Robert du Preez (flyhalf). 

If Du Preez comes on as a substitute, it will be the first time in SA history that there will be a set of a Springbok father with three Springbok sons - Robert (snr), Jean-Luc, Dan and Robert (jnr). The Du Preez’s will also become the fourth set of three Springbok brothers. 

Erasmus has opted for an experienced core of players - Jesse Kriel (centre), Elton Jantjies (flyhalf), Oupa Mohoje (flank), Du Toit (lock) and Chiliboy Ralepelle (hooker) - to provide the necessary calmness and guidance. He said he is looking forward to see the Springboks take one of Europe’s most powerful sides. 

“As coaches, we are tremendously excited about the prospect of seeing some of our best young players getting the opportunity to play at this level,” said Erasmus. 

Wales had the upper hand over the Springboks in their last two encounters, both played in Cardiff, and according to Erasmus, the Welsh will be especially motivated to continue with that trend. 

“Wales have a very solid and effective kicking strategy and their cohesive forward and set-piece play are some of their main strong points. However, I do believe that we have picked a match-day squad that will be able to compete very strongly,” added Erasmus. 

The match kicks off at 23:00 (SA time) and will be televised live on SuperSport 1.

Teams:

South Africa

15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Travis Ismaeiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Warrick Gelant

Fook, regardless of the Q, that's the greenest test side I've seen since 1992.

Now that's what you call a mix and match.

So Wright, Carr, Malherbe and Bongi weren't even good enough to make this D team. I'd be very worried if I were them. 

I guess someone has to carry the luggage.

Go Wales!!!

Hope Kwagga has a good game.

I think that team will lose by at least 12 points - reasons being the following weaknesses:-

*    Under pressure Bosch is poor under high kicks

*    Ismaiel is slow and poor since injury

*     Esterhuizen and Kriel are both poor defenders

*     Jantjies

*     The loosies are two bugger-ups and a sevens player not physically strong enough to compete on test level.

*     Jenkins and Orie are both BS - stupid and poor

*     Rallepele cannot even make the bench for the Sharks,

*     The team is very inexperienced as a whole and some combinations may misfire. 

If they were going to mix and match, they might as well have given Nkosi a start. That doesn't look like a Bok team. It looks like a Development XV.

Pakie it is a development team - with only two experienced players playing satisfactory - the other four  mentioned as experienced may have test experience - but they are utterly useless.   And I do not trust Jantjies as a flyhalf in tests. 

The four will bring zero to the match and there are too many poor players.   I hope the projected loss is not by more than 15 points.   

The one thing you must give Coach Erasmus, is that he's bold enough to risk a test with these inexperienced youngsters. This 3rd string Welsh side is the perfect opportunity to experiment with. 

Previous coaches cowered in the corner ... especially Heyneke Meyer.

I like it. It shows character.

This Judas Goat may just swing me over to his side.

Nah ... just kidding ... too many unmerited selection.