Springboks make 10 changes for French Test

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has made 10 changes to the match-23 for Saturday’s second Test in the Outgoing Tour against France in Paris, which include starts for experienced No 8 Duane Vermeulen and flyhalf Handré Pollard.

Coetzee also handed a first Test start to prop Wilco Louw, while Francois Venter has been selected at inside centre. The Springbok coach also made several positional changes to the match day squad that lost to Ireland in Dublin last weekend.

Upfront, Louw is set to make his starting debut in place of Coenie Oosthuizen, who suffered a serious knee injury in Dublin. And with Pieter-Steph du Toit ruled out with a concussion, Vermeulen starts at No 8 in a revamped loose trio combination which sees Francois Louw moving to flank where he will join Siya Kolisi on the side of the scrum.

In the backline, Pollard is in line to make his first start for South Africa since the 2015 Rugby World Cup bronze medal playoff match against Argentina in London, in place of Elton Jantjies. Venter, who made his Test debut in 2016, comes in at No 12 for Damian de Allende.

Jantjies and De Allende are included amongst the replacements, where they will be joined by prop forward Trevor Nyakane and uncapped loose forward Dan du Preez.

The Springbok team to face France in Paris on Saturday:

15. Andries Coetzee, Emirates Lions – 10 caps, 0 points
16. Dillyn Leyds, DHL Stormers – 6 caps, 0 points
17. Jesse Kriel, Vodacom Bulls – 26 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
18. Francois Venter, Toyota Cheetahs – 4 caps, 0 points
19. Courtnall Skosan, Emirates Lions – 10 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
20. Handré Pollard, Vodacom Bulls – 23 caps, 190 points (2 tries, 30 conversions, 37 penalties, 3 drop goals)
21. Ross Cronje, Emirates Lions – 7 caps, 10 points (1 tries)
22. Duane Vermeulen, Toulon (France) – 37 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
23. Siya Kolisi, DHL Stormers – 26 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
24. Francois Louw, Bath (England) – 55 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
25. Lood de Jager, Vodacom Bulls – 33 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
26. Eben Etzebeth (captain), DHL Stormers – 64 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
27. Wilco Louw, DHL Stormers – 2 caps, 0 points
28. Malcolm Marx, Emirates Lions – 12 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
29. Tendai Mtawarira, Cell C Sharks – 96 caps, 10 points (2 tries)

Replacements:

16. Bongi Mbonambi, DHL Stormers – 12 caps, 0 points
17. Steven Kitshoff, DHL Stormers – 20 caps, 0 points
18. Trevor Nyakane, Vodacom Bulls – 34 caps, 5 points (1 try)
19. Franco Mostert, Emirates Lions/Ricoh Black Rams (Jap) – 16 caps, 0 points
20. Dan du Preez, Cell C Sharks – 0 caps, 0 points
21. Rudy Paige, Vodacom Bulls – 12 caps, 5 points (1 try)
22. Elton Jantjies, Emirates Lions/NTT Shining Arcs (Japan) – 21 caps, 198 points (2 tries, 37 conversions, 38 penalties)
23. Damian de Allende, DHL Stormers – 28 caps, 15 points (3 tries)