BREAKING: Boks make surprise selection in team to face Ireland
Jacques Nienaber named his first matchday squad for the Boks’ opening Test of the end-of-year tour against Ireland. Kick-off in Dublin is at 19:30 (SA time). Kolbe will play his debut at fullback. Jesse Kriel will pair up with Damian de Allende in an experienced midfield. Damian Willemse will don the No 10 jersey in a halfback pairing with Jaden Hendrikse. Jasper Wiese will start at No 8 in the loose trio with Pieter Steph-du Toit and Siya Kolisi. Front row is Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager. The bench is split between six forwards and two backs.
Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Frans Malherbe and Malcolm Marx are the players who have been selected for the team to face Ireland in Dublin.
Bongi Mbonambi has 52 caps, 55 points. Ox Nche has 15 caps. Franco Mostert has 59 caps and 10 points, Deon Fourie has 3 caps with DHL Stormers. Kwagga Smith has 27 caps for Shizuoka Blue Revs. Faf de Klerk has 25 points for Canon Eagles. Willie le Roux has 79 caps in total.
The Springbok team to face Ireland has a total of710 caps. Siya Kolisi is the most capped Spring bok captain with 41 caps, Eben Etzebeth is second most with 106, while Wille le Roux has played 75 Tests.
Eben Etzebeth is the second most capped Springbok lock with 106 Tests. Siya Kolisi is second-most capped captain with 41 Tests, having led the team in 41 matches.
The total number of Springbok Test caps is710. The forwards have more caps than the backline. Wille le Roux has played 75 Tests as a fullback. Percy Montgomery has the most caps as the No 15 jersey.
