TON UP FOR WILLIE

SPRINGBOK fullback Willie le Roux will become the eighth player to represent South Africa in 100 Test matches after getting picked to start in Saturday’s second game against Italy in Gqeberha (5.10pm kickoff).

Back-to-back World Cup winner, Le Roux, played in his 99th game for the Boks in last week’s 42-24 win over the Azzurri in Pretoria and will go ton up at the weekend at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

This after Le Roux was one of seven survivors of the Loftus matchday squad as coach Rassie Erasmus made good on his promise of making a vrag changes after a “frustrating” second-half performance that saw Italy outscore the Bokke 21-14 in Pretoria.

With Le Roux at fullback, the Boks sport a hele nuwe backline as wings Edwill van der Merwe and Makazole Mapimpi, and centres Canan Moodie and Andre Esterhuizen get a first start of the season alongside halfbacks Manie Libbok and Grant Williams.   

And after dropping Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, Erasmus has picked Stormers yster Salmaan Moerat to captain the Boks in a forward pack that sees Ruan Nortje link up with Moerat at lock and Pieter-Steph du Toit return to the No.7 jersey.

Thomas du Toit gets a start at loosehead alongside Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw, who retain their spots alongside looseforwards Jasper Wiese and Marco van Staden.

On the bench, tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye is set to make his Test debut as Ethan Hooker and Cobus Wiese are also set for their first Bok caps as replacements.

Of Le Roux getting to 100 caps, Erasmus said: “Only seven players in Springbok history have played 100 Tests before him, and to reach this milestone is testament to the player and team man that Willie is.  

“Having come a long way with him during his career, I have no doubt that he’ll put the team before his own achievements this weekend…”

Of the changes the Bok boss added: “We said from the outset that we would rotate the team as we have a large and very talented squad, and all but three of the players have played Test rugby before.”

BOK TEAM V ITALY: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (capt), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Thomas du Toit REPLACEMENTS: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker