Wessels out, Venter drafted onto Bok bench against Australia
SA-born loosehead Boan Venter will come off the bench to cover the front row in Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener against Australia, following Jan-Hendrik Wessels’ late withdrawal.
Image: BackpagePix / File
Springbok prop Boan Venter will provide front-row cover off the bench in Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener against Australia after coach Rassie Erasmus was forced to make a late change to his team on Friday, following the withdrawal of Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Venter, who made his Test debut against Georgia during the Castle Lager Incoming Series, will partner up with Bongi Mbonambi and Asenathi Ntlabakanye as the back-up front row after Wessels suffered a niggle at training on Wednesday, which ruled him out of the match.
The encounter will mark Venter’s first Castle Lager Rugby Championship match and his first against Australia.
The match kicks off at 5.10 pm and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Updated Springbok team to face Australia in Johannesburg:
Springbok XV (15-1): Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Grant Williams, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche. Replacements (16-23): Bongi Mbonambi, Boan Venter, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie, Damian Willemse