Tshituka set for Test debut as Rassie names strong Bok lineup to face Italy

News24

14 hours ago

Several senior Springbok players will make their return to the green and gold against Italy on Saturday, with head coach Rassie Erasmus on Tuesday naming a strong starting XV for the Pretoria clash and significant experience on the bench.
READ | Farming out the props: Why scrum doctor Human trusts the Boks' depth stress test process
Bok veterans Handre Pollard and Eben Etzebeth will start at flyhalf and lock, respectively, while Vincent Tshituka gets his first Test cap after impressing against the Barbarians last weekend.
There's also a start for Damian Willemse at fullback, who will play his first match for the Boks since the 2023 World Cup final against New Zealand, with Willie le Roux providing cover off the bench as he approaches 100 Test caps.
Veteran scrumhalf Faf de Klerk also starts on the bench, with Morne van den Berg given the No 9 jersey for the second week in a row.
With regular Springbok captain Siya Kolisi out after picking up a niggle last week, Jesse Kriel retains the captaincy, making him the 67th Springbok captain, with Etzebeth as his vice-captain.
Kriel is partnered in midfield by Damian de Allende, while Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse are the starting wingers.
In the pack, Jasper Wiese will start at No 8, and Bulls strongman Wilco Louw will play at tighthead prop.
Erasmus opted for a split of six forwards and two backs on the replacements bench. Experienced hooker Bongi Mbonambi will provide front-row cover with props Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Vincent Koch, along with lock RG Snyman and utility forwards Franco Mostert and Kwagga Smith.
'We have a big squad, and we would like to balance the game time within the group while at the same time maintaining continuity in selection, and we believe this is the team that will be best suited for what we want to achieve against Italy,' said Erasmus.
'We are also fortunate to have a few experienced players back from injury who will be keen to make their mark in the game.'
Commenting on Kolisi's injury, Erasmus said: 'Siya, unfortunately, picked up a niggle, but Marco (van Staden) did a good job at flanker last week, and he is one of the core players in our team, so we are blessed to have such depth in the squad.'
Erasmus added: 'If one goes through this team, there are so many leaders, and we were impressed with how Jesse accepted the responsibility of wearing the captain's armband last week. He is a player who leads by example on and off the field, and he thoroughly deserves this honour.'
The Bok coach was also delighted for Tshituka, who delivered a strong performance against the Barbarians last week, scoring two tries in his first game in the Bok jersey.
'Vincent has fitted into our structures really well, and he showed last week that he has the potential to play Test rugby, so we are excited to see what he can do against Italy and to see him make his debut,' said Erasmus.
Commenting on what he expected against Italy, Erasmus said: 'They are a quality team with a strong pack and quality backs, and their passion for the team and their country is incredible, so we expect them to throw everything at us.
'They also play an exciting brand of rugby, so it will be important for us to stick to our structures and deliver a quality performance all around to get the desired result.'
Kick-off is at 17:10 at Loftus on Saturday.