Rassie Erasmus on Thursday made sweeping changes to his South Africa team for the Autumn Series clash with Italy, announcing 11 different names to the side that beat France last weekend.
Only prop Boan Venter, captain Siya Kolisi and backs Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse retain their spots in the starting XV for Saturday’s match in Turin.
“We said from the outset of the tour that we want to give as many players as possible a chance to play, and we believe this team is best suited to the threats Italy will pose,” said Erasmus.
The Springboks won 32-17 in Paris last Saturday and will be hot favourites to beat Italy who did however stun Australia 26-19 in Udine.
Erasmus’ team twice beat Italy on home turf in July, racking up 87 points over the two Tests — one of which was won 45-0 — and the Italians have only ever prevailed once in 18 meetings betweeen the two coutries.
“They tested us well in both matches, and put up a brave fight,” said Erasmus.
“Their victory against Australia will also boost their confidence immensely, so we have a lot of respect for them, and we’ll have to give everything to get the result we want on the weekend.
“They’ve made huge strides in the last few years, and last week’s result shows what they are capable of when they are at their best, so we are not taking them lightly.”
South Africa (15-1)
Damian Willemse; Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Ethan Hooker, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Handre Pollard, Morne van den Berg; Marco van Staden, Ben-Jason Dixon, Siya Kolisi (capt); Franco Mostert, Jean Kleyn; Zachary Porthen, Johan Grobbelaar, Boan Venter
Replacements: Gerhard Steenekamp, Wilco Louw, RG Snyman, Ruan Nortje, Andre Esterhuizen, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok
Quesada sticks with Italy’s Wallabies heroes for Springboks Test
Gonzalo Quesada largely kept faith with the Italy team that stunned Australia last weekend, making just one change to the team announced on Thursday for the Azzurri’s tough test against South Africa.
In the front row, Saracens prop Marco Riccioni replaces Simone Ferrari for Saturday’s clash against the world champions in Turin.
Italy beat Australia 26-19 in Udine last Saturday, highlighting once again the progress the nation has made over the last few years.
Try-scoring heroes Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane start on the wings while Paolo Garbisi, who kicked the rest of the team’s points against the Wallabies, reprises his role at fly-half.
However, South Africa are a different proposition entirely and come into the match off the back of an impressive 32-17 victory over France in Paris.
Italy were twice beaten by Rassie Erasmus’s team during a short tour of South Africa in July, conceding 87 points over the two games — and were even blanked 45-0 in one.
The Italians have only ever prevailed once in 18 meetings between the two countries, in Florence back in 2016.
Italy (15-1)
Ange Capuozzo; Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Lorenzo Cannone, Manuel Zuliani, Ross Vintcent; Andrea Zambonin, Niccolo Cannone, Marco Riccioni, Giacomo Nicotera, Danilo Fischetti
Replacements;
Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Mirco Spagnolo, Simone Ferrari, Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto, David Odiase, Martin Page-Relo, Tommaso Allan
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