Cheslin Kolbe and Sikhumbuzo Notshe will make their Springbok starts in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday when South Africa take on the Wallabies.
Kolbe will start on the right owing and Notshe at number eight as two of Rassie Erasmus’ four changes to the starting line-up that beat the All Blacks in Wellington.
Jesse Kriel will shift in-field to take the place of the injured Lukhanyo Am, allowing Kolbe to take his place in the No. 14 jersey, while Notshe’s inclusion is a straight swap with Warren Whiteley who is also ruled out due to injury.
“Cheslin has been very impressive since he joined the squad a few weeks ago and now he gets a deserved opportunity to start in a big Test,” said SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus.
“The same applies for Notshe, who did very well in the role of impact player during the English series. He has kept on working hard and he deserves his opportunity in the starting team.”
André Esterhuizen will partner Jesse Kriel in the midfield in yet another injury-enforced change, this time at the expense of Damian de Allende.
In a front-row rotation, Tendai Mtawarira, who is set to win his 106th cap, will start at loosehead prop, with Kitshoff moving to the bench to round up the four changes.
“The inclusion of ‘Beast’ in the front row is a straight swop for Steven and Jesse returns to outside centre, a position where he has played most of his Test rugby, next to André, who started in four Tests already this year.” Erasmus added.
In addition to the changes to the starting fifteen, Erasmus tweaked the substitutes for Saturday’s match.
Marco van Staden will replace Francois Louw in the match-day squad, and Embrose Papier is now the back-up scrumhalf in place of Ross Cronje. Furthermore, the versatile Damian Willemse will return to the bench.
The Springbok coach was impressed with the impact of the bench against the All Blacks and will hope for more of the same on Saturday as he builds a squad for next year’s Rugby World Cup.
“The players that we sent on took their chances and that’s what we want from this group. We are trying to build experience in the squad that we can take to the Rugby World Cup,” said Erasmus.
Team: Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, André Esterhuizen, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Handré Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Wilco, RG Snyman 20. Marco van Staden Embrose Papier, Elton Jantjies, Damian Willemse