Dillyn Leyds will start his first Springbok test against Australia in Bloemfontein on Saturday after replacing Raymond Rhule in the starting fifteen.
Leyds is one of four changes to the Springbok team that got humiliated in New Zealand two weeks ago. He will earn his fourth Springbok cap in joining Andries Coetzee and Courtnall Skosan in the back three.
The other change to the starting fifteen is the anticipated return of Bath based Francois Louw, who replaces Jean-Luc du Preez in the 7 jersey. Ross Cronje is over his illness and replaces Francois Hougaard at scrumhalf.
The final change is on the bench where Sharks hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle gets a spot over Bongi Mbonambi.
The Springbok team to face Australia in Bloemfontein:
15. Andries Coetzee (fullback), Emirates Lions – 7 caps, 0 points
14. Dillyn Leyds (wing), DHL Stormers – 3 caps, 0 points
13. Jesse Kriel (centre), Vodacom Bulls – 23 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
12. Jan Serfontein (centre), Vodacom Bulls – 33 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
11. Courtnall Skosan (wing), Emirates Lions – 7 caps, 5 points (1 try)
10. Elton Jantjies (flyhalf), Emirates Lions / NTT Shining Arcs (Japan) – 18 caps, 179 points (2 tries, 32 conversions, 35 penalties)
9. Ross Cronje (scrumhalf) Emirates Lions – 4 caps, 5 points (1 try)
8. Uzair Cassiem (flank), Toyota Cheetahs – 5 caps, 5 points (1 try)
7. Francois Louw (flank), Bath (England) – 52 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
6. Siya Kolisi (flank), DHL Stormers – 23 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
5. Franco Mostert (lock), Emirates Lions / Ricoh Black Rams (Japan) – 13 caps, 0 points
4. Eben Etzebeth (lock, captain), DHL Stormers – 61 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
3. Ruan Dreyer (prop), Emirates Lions – 2 caps, 0 points
2. Malcolm Marx (hooker), Emirates Lions – 9 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (prop), Cell C Sharks – 94 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Replacements
16. Chiliboy Ralepelle (hooker), Cell C Sharks – 22 caps, 5 points (1 try)
17. Steven Kitshoff (prop), DHL Stormers – 17 caps, 0 points
18. Trevor Nyakane (prop), Vodacom Bulls – 32 caps, 5 points (1 try)
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit (lock), DHL Stormers – 27 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
20. Jean-Luc du Preez (loose forward), Cell C Sharks – 8 caps, 5 points (1 try)
21. Rudy Paige (scrumhalf), Vodacom Bulls – 10 caps, 5 points (1 try)
22. Handré Pollard (flyhalf) Vodacom Bulls – 21 caps, 188 points (2 tries, 29 conversions, 37 penalties, 3 drop goals)
23. Damian de Allende (centre), DHL Stormers – 25 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
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Another victory for the Boks.
Going to struggle out wide on defence without Rhule.
Not really impressed with the side. Glad Chilly boy is on the bench though…Not sure how Paige is still in the team. Can’t even make the Bulls side…and plenty better no 9,s around….
Chilliboy the second best hooker, what a joke
@McLovin (Comment 2) : Nothing new, we have been struggling out wide with defense ever since our tallest wing,Victor Marfield, retired for the second time from international rugby.
Wonder how JL will respond to the inclusion of Louw. Marcel Coetzee was also left out of the team because he wasn’t a fetcher and he trained and became a great Fletcher, not looking all the other great qualities he brought to the team. Great players become even better, hope he focuses on this aspect of his game, sharks can use another loosie that wants to compete for the ball on the ground.
@HeinF (Comment 5) : 😆 😆
@HeinF (Comment 6) : The real question is why in rugby’s name not rather drop Cassiem ? This guy AC is a joke. He’s probably trying his best to piss us off with his selections.
I again think the loose trio is off- no big tackler there and no ball player at 8. Should have brought louw in for Cassiem and played him at 8. Still have a small back 3 and Wallabies picked big guys.Tough on Mbonambi who hasnt really played enough to be dropped and likewis Chilli to be included but doesnt make too much of a difference. Rudy paige there is still the standard joke
So LS is playing so well for Sharks and AC calls him up to carry bags!! Why isn’t he in the bench?
By the time Alister Coetzee is done floundering he will given everyone including a couple of flagmen and cheerleaders a cap. And still be no closer to an answer.
@HeinF (Comment 5) : Well him and our flyhalf schalk burger.
@HeinF (Comment 6) : You mean Marcell knows how to make arrows?
@coolfusion (Comment 12) : I think Marcell may have “missed the point” of his training you may even say he was “wide of the mark”. On the upside he now has a valuable skill if ever he wanted to go back in time.
@coolfusion (Comment 12) :
Good one…
Ho Hum, at least we can look forward to an interesting press conference full of untruths.
Really not sure what to think about the team!!! Only plus is Chilli on the bench!!!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 15) : I don’t know. Even at that he is sub standard. I enjoyed PDivvie’ s press conferences a lot more. AC is more of a Droopy Dog and PDivvie a Scooby-Doo.
@coolfusion (Comment 17) : hahaha very funny!!!
@coolfusion (Comment 12) : Took me a while to get the joke, being afrikaans and all
us afrikaans okes struggle with the auto correct on our phones!
@HeinF (Comment 19) : Tell me about it. Having fat fingers and a small screen also doesn’t help.
It is interesting to note that more and more externals are starting to say that until we stop our selection policies and pick based on merit we will never be a force to worry about. Listening to the Rugby 365 podcasts as well are interesting
@JD (Comment 16) : How is that a plus? Just because he dons a black and white jersey? He is no better or worse than Mbonambi. After Marx, Robbie Coetzee is probably the next best, and I would even go for Franco Marais or Mark Pretorius, rather than those two jokers.
@SheldonK (Comment 8) : At least Chilli can find his lineout jumpers.
Fortunately the experiment with PSDT at 7 has stopped. He is a very good lock, but way way too slow for a seven.
This team should have enough to beat the Aussies at home, but it depends how they react to the spanking of two weeks ago
@KingCheetah (Comment 22) : He is better than Mbonambi who can’t hit a bloody barn door, and I would have said that even when he was a Bull
@KingCheetah (Comment 22) : @Bokhoring (Comment 24) : nothing to do with the team he playes for. Chilli is just way better than Mbonambi not only at line outs but also overall play. And yes there is also other hooker that I personally like more than both of them (just as I like certain other payers more than other players in the squad) but they’re not in the squad so have to look at who’s there and what is the best possible team with the players in the squad.
@Bokhoring (Comment 24) : Chilli is an accurate line out thrower, I will give him that. In every other aspect, he is pretty average.
@Bokhoring (Comment 23) : I am amazed that they never played PSDT at 8,he has the size and skills to be a modern day Morne du Plessis.
@coolfusion (Comment 17) : Yeah interesting was probably not the right word there..
No one comes close to PDivvy’s press conferences
@KingCheetah (Comment 26) : No point having a hooker that play like a centre cum flank but cannot find his jumpers or contribute in the scrum. The All Blacks are the only team in the world that could potentially live with a flaky set piece with their capabilities in effecting turnovers and also striking from those. The other teams need a decent set piece to work from.
@The hound (Comment 27) : I think that can work in heavy conditions, but when you play on fast fields against teams with speedy loose trios who move the ball around a lot, IMO he is still just to slow.
@The hound (Comment 27) : @Bokhoring (Comment 30) : could work but like Bokhoring said I think he will have to work on his speed.
@Bokhoring (Comment 30) : I know we have our reasons not to like him in Natal,but he is world class player,I just don’t know if that idiot Proudfoot can get the best out of him that say a Ackerman or Mitchell could.
I see this guys career being mismanaged the same way as Joe van Niekerk.
PSDT should never have left the Sharks,he has yet to beat the Sharks since leaving,
@The hound (Comment 32) : yes he’s hugely talented and could be a bok legend but like you say he needs the correct guidance. Interesting that he has never won a game against the Sharks since leaving!
Mvovo, Nkosi, Am, Estterhuizen, Van Wyk, Bosch, Schreuder (our bench therafter) will, Im sure match and even better this Bok backline.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 34) : ja that’s going to be a seriously dangerous back line with players like Mapimpi, Ward, RdP jnr and co not even in the mix!
There Gonna be a Match Thread guys?
@Original Pierre (Comment 36) : It’s up
@Original Pierre (Comment 36) : it’s been up for an hour, muppet 😀