Sacha in at flyhalf for SA “A”
New selection: Mzwandile Stick
South Africa ‘A’ coach Mzwandile Stick made five changes to his starting team to face the Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate Stadium on Thursday.
The changes see Sacha Mngomezulu coming in at flyhalf for Johan Goosen, while Marco van Staden also earns a spot om the flank.
Mngomezulu will form a new halfback pairing with Grant Williams, while the only other change among the backs is at fullback where Gianni Lombard takes over from Aphelele Fassi, who injured an ankle injury in the team’s 28-14 defeat against Munster last Thursday.
The changes in the forward pack were at hooker, where Andre-Hugo Venter is named in place of Joseph Dweba, who is on standby for the Springbok squad, with Van Staden replacing Phepsi Buthelezi at flank.
Of his team selection, Stick says: “It was always our intention to give everyone in the squad game time on this tour to assess our player resources and see what the players have to offer at this level.
“This week we will hand a few different players starting berths as the demands are different on players from the starting team and the bench.”
South Africa A: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Mngomezulu,
9 Grant Williams, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Thomas du Toit (captain), 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Dan du Preez, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Phepsi Buthelezi, 22 Sanele Nohamba and 23 Johan Goosen.