Rassie rings the changes for Italy

SPRINGBOK head coach Rassie Erasmus is not a man who deviates from his word, and as promised, the Bok guru made wholesale changes to the side that will take on Italy in the second clash in Gqeberha on Saturday.

- LEIGHTON KOOPMAN

While Erasmus was not too pleased with the team’s performance in the opening clash at Loftus Versfeld this past weekend, he admitted on Tuesday that the overhauled side is not due to the ‘below par’ 42-24 victory, but more out of respect for Italy. He still selected a strong side with 493 caps in the starting XV as fullback Willie le Roux will play in his 100th Springbok Test.

Only seven players survived the axe after the Pretoria duel and Erasmus confirmed they had some different plans for certain players for this weekend in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (5.10 pm kickoff), but those guys will now get an opportunity next week against Georgia in the final midyear Test.

Le Roux, who played off the bench last weekend, forms a changed back-three with newcomer Edwill van der Merwe and veteran Makazole Mapimpi who is three Tests away from his 50th cap for the world champions. Mapimpi, who has been a mainstay in the Bok squad under Erasmus, should reach that milestone this year.

“Two or three guys (initially earmarked for the second Test) missed out this week,” Erasmus confirmed at his team announcement on Tuesday.