The Springboks tackle Wales in their penultimate Rugby World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff this weekend, with captain Siya Kolisi set to mark his return from injury.
After rotating his squad during the Rugby Championship and the second clash with Argentina, head coach Jacques Nienaber is now set to name a more settled team to take on Warren Gatland’s charges.
Ahead of their departure from South Africa, the Bok boss highlighted the need to now build on their combinations but also allow players to regain form ahead of the World Cup, starting in Cardiff.
With that in mind, here is our prediction of the team that Nienaber will name for Saturday’s clash at the Principality Stadium.
Predicted Springboks team v Wales
15 Damian Willemse: It’s a close call between Willie le Roux and Willemse for the starting berth, but considering that the former started the entire Rugby Championship, it’s likely that the latter will get another hit-out at full-back or fly-half against Wales.
14 Cheslin Kolbe: After being rested for the clash against Argentina, Kolbe is set to return to the starting XV. He is clearly the first-choice right wing for the Springboks despite the dazzling display from Canan Moodie last time out.
Experienced midfield
13 Jesse Kriel: With Lukhanyo Am sidelined for this fixture and the Rugby World Cup, Kriel looks set to fill the void. The Springboks may well look to Test the likes of Moodie and Damian de Allende in the role, with Kriel the only out-and-out number 13, but that may have to wait until the pool stage fixtures against Romania or Tonga.
12 Damian de Allende: There is a strong case to be made that Andre Esterhuizen should get another shot in the starting XV, and he may well do so against Wales, but we predict that Nienaber will favour getting another 80-minute performance out of the De Allende-Kriel combination.
11 Makazole Mapimpi: The veteran Springbok hasn’t quite been at his best and could fit in that group of players that needs to play their way back into form. This is the kind of fixture that would suit Mapimpi rather than the brilliant Kurt-Lee Arendse, but really, the Bok coach can’t go wrong with whoever he picks.
🔥 Makazole Mapimpi finishes off this sharp Springboks attack! #ARGvRSApic.twitter.com/btcyV7mzsv
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) August 5, 2023
Half-back pairing
10 Manie Libbok: Nienaber highlighted the clash against Wales as a potential return date for Handre Pollard, but now that he has only been placed on standby for the World Cup, we expect Libbok or Willemse to be handed the number 10 jumper. We predict that Libbok will get his first start in the iconic stadium, which will aid his preparations for the tournament.
9 Jaden Hendrikse: A difficult one to call as Nienaber effectively had five scrum-halves to pick from! However, Hendrikse is the only one that is yet to get minutes this year due to an injury concern and then a family bereavement. We expect that he will be named to start the fixture and could even shift to fly-half at some stage during the match.
🕺 Brilliant footwork from Makazole Mapimpi!
Jaden Hendrikse scores but injures himself in the process. 🤕#HeinekenChampionsCup #SHAvMUNpic.twitter.com/G1ODJN6UJv
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) April 1, 2023
Captain Kolisi returns in the starting XV?
8 Jasper Wiese: A straight shoot-out between Wiese and Duane Vermeulen this week. The former had a below-par outing against New Zealand in the Rugby Championship but looked far sharper against Argentina and is another player that could do with a few extra minutes under his belt.
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit: The 2019 World Player of the Year is trending towards his best, and Saturday would be an excellent opportunity to gather more steam ahead of the World Cup. Wales v South Africa games are often arm-wrestles fought up front, the kind of game Du Toit thrives in.
6 Siya Kolisi (c): The Springboks coaching team have confirmed that the captain is fit and available for selection, and we should see him trot out against Wales. While the coaches will be wary of the skipper not re-injuring himself, allowing him to start and having an able replacement on the bench means he can come off at any stage.
✅ Siya Kolisi and Deon Fourie.
❌ Lukhanyo Am and Handre Pollard.🇿🇦 Our winners and losers from the Springboks #RWC2023 squad.
✍️ @jaredwright17 https://t.co/s2DxQiXcjU
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) August 8, 2023
New locking partnership
5 RG Snyman: A first Test start for the lock since the 2019 Rugby World Cup clash against Canada. The man affectionately known as ‘Viking’ looks set to return to the starting XV and take over the lineout calling responsibilities. While he has taken on this role with Munster, Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert usually have the duties, and this match will give Snyman the perfect opportunity to cement a starting position for the World Cup.
Just a GIF of RG Snyman violently shaking Malcolm Marx after scoring before…headbutting HIM! 😅#RugbyChampionship #NZLvRSA pic.twitter.com/LvEUqEEjNe
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) July 16, 2023
4 Eben Etzebeth: The experienced second-rower is bound to be back in the side in place of Jean Kleyn. It is believed that Etzebeth and Snyman are set to be the first-choice starting second-row pair for the World Cup, and Wales will provide the first audition for the duo to prove the effectiveness of the combination.
Front-row and bench
3 Frans Malherbe: After a well-deserved off week for the clash in Argentina, we predict that Malherbe will return to anchor the scrum at tighthead. Vincent Koch is likely to provide cover from the bench.
2 Bongi Mbonambi: There is always a question of whether Malcolm Marx or Mbonambi will start, but it could well be the latter this week after he captained the Boks in Buenos Aires. The Springboks might well want to test Deon Fourie at hooker before the World Cup, which could lead to Marx being added to the starting line-up with Fourie on the bench.
1 Ox Nche: Like Kolisi, Nche has been declared fit for the match and may mark his return in the starting XV. The loosehead prop has yet to feature for the Springboks this year, with an injury ruling him out of the Rugby Championship. Trevor Nyakane is the likely alternative, with Steven Kitshoff either rested for the fixture or making an impact from the bench.
Predicted replacements: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Faf de Klerk, Canan Moodie.
READ MORE: Springboks could be forced to don blue jersey for most of Rugby World Cup – report
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