Three players on Springbok debut against Georgia

Rosko Specman, Aphelele Fassi and Jasper Wiese are in line to make their Springbok debuts on Friday when the Rugby World Cup champions line up against Georgia at Loftus Versfeld in the team’s first Test since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in November 2019.

Toyota Cheetahs speedster Specman – who is no stranger to international rugby with an Olympic Games bronze medal and numerous Blitzbok tournament successes to his name – will start on the right wing, while Fassi, who has been in hot form for the Cell C Sharks, has been named on the left wing.

Wiese, a former star for the Toyota Cheetahs who has since moved to the Leicester Tigers, has been included on the bench and will earn his first Test cap should he take the field.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, who will guide the Springboks in his first Test as head coach, named 18 Rugby World Cup winners in his matchday squad – 12 of whom featured in their 32-12 final triumph against England.

Six of these 12 players will start against Georgia. They are Bok captain Siya Kolisi and his loose forward partner Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth (lock), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Willie le Roux (fullback) and Handré Pollard (flyhalf).

The other players who featured in the grand finale of the international extravaganza are Frans Steyn (centre), Franco Mostert (lock), Malcolm Marx (hooker), Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe (both props) and Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalf).

Kolisi will earn his 51^st Test cap after striking his half century in the RWC final, while Pollard, Kitshoff and Kriel will all take a step closer to reaching the significant career milestone of 50 caps. Pollard will earn his 49^th Test cap and Kriel his 47^th, while Kitshoff will earn his 48^th cap if he takes the field.

“We have selected the best team with an eye on what we would like to achieve in this Test against Georgia and we believe that we have a good balance with a number of experienced campaigners and a few young players who have made a strong statement this season,” said Nienaber.

“Most of the players in this squad are Rugby World Cup winners, while others have been part of the national squad for a few seasons, and this will be invaluable against a team that boast the passion that Georgia exhibit.

“We are also excited to see what the uncapped players bring to the table after impressive performances for their franchises in the last few seasons. Each one of them has proved that they deserve an opportunity at this level, and the commitment and enthusiasm they displayed at training has been striking.”

Nienaber was excited to return to the field after a 19-month absence from international rugby and said the physical challenge they would face against Georgia was exactly what they needed to prepare themselves mentally and physically as they look forward to the Castle Lager Lions Series.

“We are expecting Georgia to come out guns blazing with their passionate and physical rugby, so we need to find our rhythm early on and build up a good 80-minute performance,” said Nienaber.  

“We know how big this challenge will be, but it is vital that we build a solid foundation in the next two Tests in order to refine our skill set, match readiness and ability to perform under pressure.”

Springbok team to face Georgia at Loftus Versfeld:

15. Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 61 caps, 60 pts (12 t)

14. Rosko Specman (Toyota Cheetahs) – uncapped

13. Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 46 caps, 60 pts (12t)

12. Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 67 caps, 141 pts (11t, 7c, 21p, 3d)

11. Aphelele Fassi (Cell C Sharks) – uncapped  

10. Handré Pollard (vice-captain, Montpellier) – 48 caps, 457 pts (6t, 74c, 89p, 4d)

9. Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 14 caps, 30 pts (6t)

8. Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 6 caps, 0 pts

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers) – 55 caps, 25 pts (5t)

6. Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 50 caps, 30 pts (6t)

5. Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 39 caps, 5 pts (1t)

4. Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 85 caps, 15 pts (3t)

3. Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls) – 42 caps, 5 pts (1t)

2. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers) – 36 caps, 35 pts (7t)

1. Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks) – 1 cap, 0 pts

Replacements

16. Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 33 caps, 25 pts (5t)

17. Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers – 47 caps, 5 pts (1t)

18. Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers – 38 caps, 5 pts (1t)

19. Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers) – 3 caps, 0 pts

20. Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – uncapped

21. Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 10 caps, 20 pts (4t)

22. Elton Jantjies (Pau) – 37 caps, 281 pts (2t, 62c, 49p)

23. Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 6 caps, 5 pts (1t)

Facts and Stats

• It will be the Georgians’ first trip to South Africa to face the Springboks.
• This match marks the second time these two nations meet – the first was in their pool match at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, which the Springboks won 46-19.
• Frans Steyn requires nine more points to reach the milestone of 150 Test points.
• Elton Jantjies is one penalty goal short of his 50^th for the Springboks – and should he achieve this feat, he will match Naas Botha in fifth place for the most career penalty goals. 

Head to head v Georgia

Played: 1, Won: 1; Points for: 46; Points against: 19; Tries for: 7; Tries against: 1; Win%: 100%

Miscellaneous

• The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 550.
• There are 236 caps in the backline with 314 caps amongst the forwards. On the bench there are a further 174 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline are 33, the forwards 39 while the players on the bench average 21.

Match officials

• The referee is Mike Adamson of Scotland. This will be his first Test as a referee of a match involving South Africa and his second career Test match.
• The assistant referees are Wayne Barnes of England and Marius van der Westhuizen of South Africa. Marius Jonker of South Africa is the TMO.