South African flyhalf Handre Pollard (Tom Jenkins/Getty Images)
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has backed experience and his seasoned World Cup winners for Saturday’s first Test against Ireland at Loftus.
In total there are 20 World Cup champions – all 15 in the starting line-up and a further five on the bench – in the matchday squad.
The only three players in the squad who did not feature in the 2023 World Cup in France, where the Springboks claimed their second successive Webb Ellis Cup, are Gerhard Steenekamp (prop), Salmaan Moerat (lock) and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (utility back), who are elevated to a selection featuring a six-two bench split in favour of the forwards.
Siya Kolisi will captain the side in the No 6 jersey while Erasmus has also opted for the tried and tested halfback pairing of Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard while there is no room for Manie Libbok.
“This is the team we believe will give us the impetus we need against Ireland, who are the second highest ranked team in the world,” said Erasmus.
“We are blessed to have a lot of depth in our squad, and we are in a fortunate position to have several Rugby World Cup-winners in our ranks who know what it takes to perform at the highest level and play against the best teams in the world.
“The fact that most of these guys have played together is a bonus for us, and most of them have faced Ireland before so they are well aware of the challenge that lies ahead, especially since we haven’t beaten them since 2016.”
Kick-off on Saturday is at 17:00.
Springboks:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
