Utility looseforward Kwagga Smith has been dropped to the bench for Saturday’s second Test against the British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium.
Smith, who alongside winger Cheslin Kolbe, lost the aerial duel on the right side of the pitch in the second half of the 22-17 first Test defeat now makes way for Jasper Wiese, who will wear the Springboks’ No.8 jersey for the first time.
Coach Jacques Nienaber says of the inclusion of 25 year-old Wiese: “He was part of the plans [up until now] and played against Georgia. It’s a nice combination for us in terms of having Kwagga and Jasper.
“His main role will be to get momentum and stop momentum. He had another week of training with us and was player 24/25 last week, and would have come in in case of injury or illness.
“Kwagga with the speed and impact he brings off the bench, I feel that’s playing to our strengths. It’s going to be nice to see him [Wiese] participating in a huge game like this.”
The change at No.8 is one of three to the starting XV, with Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe joining Stormers teammate Bongi Mbonambi in the front row.
Kitshoff replaces Ox Nche, who failed to recover from an injury suffered in the first half of the first Test, while Malherbe comes in for Trevor Nyakane, who will provide loosehead cover off the bench.
The Boks also went with a six-two split on the bench, with Damian Willemse, who will cover 10, 12 and 15, and his Stormers teammate scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies being the only two backline players on the wood.
Springboks: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Damian Willemse.