Aphelele Fassi will start at fullback in the Springboks’ second Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies in Cape Town on Saturday, following the withdrawal of Willie le Roux due to a niggle.
Le Roux, who became the eighth player in South African rugby history to feature in 100 Tests earlier this season, suffered the niggle at training earlier this week and has not recovered in time to play, prompting Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus to draft Fassi straight into the starting line-up.
Fassi started last week’s Test against the Wallabies in Johannesburg, where the Springboks went down 38-22, making this his second appearance in a row against the Wallabies.
Saturday’s match will be Fassi’s 14th Test for South Africa.
Prediction
South Africa to win by nine points
TEAMS
South Africa (revised)
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 RG Snyman,3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Lood de Jager, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Australia
15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Akuso Suaalii, 12 Len Iketau, 11 Corey Toole, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andrew Kellaway
Date: Saturday, 23 August
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Kick-off: 17:10
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Richard Kelly (Australia)
Does the withdrawal of Willie le Roux strengthen or weaken the Springboks?
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