South Africa recall Eben Etzebeth for England Nations Championship clash
Eben Etzebeth has made an immediate return to the South Africa starting XV following suspension, with Manie Libbok trusted at fly-half for Saturday’s Nations Championship opener against England in Johannesburg.
The veteran lock was handed a lengthy ban after being sent off for an eye gouge in his last Test outing against Wales.
He has only featured once for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship since that controversial incident.
Libbok takes the reins as milestones reached
Head coach Rassie Erasmus has opted for Libbok in the number 10 jersey ahead of Handre Pollard, capitalising on the absence of the injured Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Elsewhere in the backline, flying wing Cheslin Kolbe and dynamic full-back Damian Willemse are set to win their 50th international caps.
World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi leads a highly experienced side at Ellis Park against a visiting squad arriving on the back of four consecutive Six Nations defeats.
Erasmus anticipates bruising physical encounter
The Springboks boss praised the opposition and emphasised the need for a seasoned squad to match the looming challenge.
“England are a quality outfit, and we are expecting them to give everything they have in this match, so it was important to select a squad with experience combined with a few younger players, who have proved that they have what it takes to perform at this level.”
Rassie Erasmus
“England are a settled team, they come off a Six Nations campaign earlier in the season, and, similarly to us, they will also want to have a good start to this exciting new competition, so we are expecting it to be a bruising encounter.”
Lock crisis forces immediate return
The instant reinstatement of the most-capped player in Springbok history is partly necessitated by an escalating injury crisis in the engine room.
Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager are currently sidelined by a niggle and illness respectively, while RG Snyman remains a long-term absentee.
The world champions will also face Wales and Scotland in the coming weeks as they look to build momentum in this newly formed tournament.
South Africa starting XV to face England
- 15. Damian Willemse
- 14. Cheslin Kolbe
- 13. Jesse Kriel
- 12. Damian de Allende
- 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse
- 10. Manie Libbok
- 9. Grant Williams
- 8. Jasper Wiese
- 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
- 6. Siya Kolisi (captain)
- 5. Ruan Nortje
- 4. Eben Etzebeth
- 3. Thomas du Toit
- 2. Malcolm Marx
- 1. Ox Nche
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Marco van Staden, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Andre Esterhuizen, Canan Moodie.