Tighthead prop Wilco Louw played the last of his 14 Test matches against Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in 2021. FILE - Tighthead prop Wilco Louw played the last of his 14 Test matches against Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in 2021. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP
Prop Wilco Louw is one of the 12 changes in the Springboks side for Saturday November Tour match against England at Twickenham.
Bulls tighthead prop Louw will play his first Test match since 2021 in a much-changed Springboks team from the one that beat Scotland on Sunday. Louw returned to the Springbok set-up after an injury replacement for the tour, after playing the last of his 14 Tests behind closed doors against Argentina in Port Elizabeth three years ago.
Only lock Eben Etzebeth (lock), looshead prop Ox Nche and hooker Bongi Mbonambi retain their starting jerseys from the Murrayfield clash, as coach Rassie Erasmus has opted for a whole new backline.
“The turnaround between the Scotland and England Tests is short, so we had to be smart in our selection to enable us to field a fresh squad with only six days between two tough Test matches,” said Erasmus.
“It obviously has a knock-on in effect in the sense that we’ve made 12 changes to the starting lineup, but we have been rotating our squad all season.
Every time Mapimpi plays well, the tears just run down my face. A stand out from today’s game against the Scotland.
— Vuyo Mondi (@Thee_Amender) November 10, 2024
I cry even more because Zizi is not going to be on call when Mampimpi runs out for his 50th cap in due course ❤️. #Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #SCOvRSA pic.twitter.com/PDJfAjUaDv
“Over and above that most of these players know each other really well having played together for the last few seasons, as well as in the Rugby World Cup, the Castle Lager Incoming Series, and the Rugby Championship, so we are pleased with the quality of the team we’ve been able to name.”
Louw is one of five changes in the pack with RG Snyman (lock) and loose forwards Siyan Kolisi (captain), Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese brought into the starting line-up.
Behind them is a whole new backline with six players recalled (after sitting out last week), and scrumhalf Grant Williams promoted from the bench.
Returning to the backline are Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse (both wings), Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel (both centres), Aphelele Fassi (fullback) and Manie Libbok (flyhalf), who were rested as part of his rotation system last week.
However, the squad includes 15 players who battled it out against the hosts in the Rugby World Cup semi-final in France last year.
In the five-three split in favour of the forwards on the bench, Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf) is also recalled in partnership with Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am as backline cover, along with forward regulars Malcolm Marx (hooker), props Gerhard Steenekamp and Vincent Koch, while Elrigh Louw and Kwagga Smith (who earned his 50th Test cap last week), will provide an impact as the replacement loose forwards.
Erasmus said the reversion to traditional five-three split was a response to the challenge he expected England to pose.
“England poses a completely different challenge to Scotland, and we selected our squad based on what we would like to do in the match and also what we think will be best to counter the challenge England poses,” said the Bok coach.
“Fortunately, we have quite a few players who can switch positions if necessary, so we feel we have adequate depth throughout the team, which allowed us to select this group of replacements.
“England come off two narrow defeats, but the quality of their performances was good in both matches, so we size of the challenge.
“We lost narrowly to Ireland and France in back-to-back matches in 2022 and a year later were world champions so we know we shouldn’t read anything into the last two results.”
Springboks team for England
15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Cheslin Kolbe 13 Jesse Kriel 12 Damian de Allende 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse 10 Manie Libbok 9 Grant Williams 8 Jasper Wiese 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit 6 Siya Kolisi (captain) 5 RG Snyman 4 Eben Etzebeth 3 Wilco Louw 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Ox Nche.
Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx 17 Gerhard Steenekamp 18 Vincent Koch 19 Elrigh Louw 20 Kwagga Smith 21 Cobus Reinach 22 Handré Pollard 23 Lukhanyo Am.
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