Rassie Erasmus has continued his policy of building Springbok depth by handing four players their Test debuts for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash against Wales in Durban.
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Wing Jaco Williams, fly-half Vusi Moyo, lock Ruben van Heerden and prop Carlu Sadie will all make their first appearances in the green and gold as South Africa host Steve Tandy’s side at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
The quartet headline a fresh-looking Springbok side that blends established internationals with emerging talent, while Erasmus has also recalled experienced scrum-half Herschel Jantjies to the matchday 23 for the first time since 2023.
Williams and Moyo will enjoy dream debuts at their home stadium after impressing for the Sharks, while former Stormers lock Van Heerden and Bordeaux Begles prop Sadie complete the group of newcomers.
Andre-Hugo Venter is also in line for his second Test appearance from the bench after debuting against Portugal in 2024.
Captain Pieter-Steph du Toit leads an experienced spine that includes Malcolm Marx, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cobus Reinach, while Aphelele Fassi starts at full-back.
The Springboks remain without several established stars, with Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Andre Esterhuizen, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard and Ox Nche all unavailable through injury.
Explaining his selection, Erasmus said the plan to expose as many players as possible to Test rugby remains a central part of South Africa’s long-term strategy.
“We told the players from the start of the season that if everything played out well, we would give everyone in the squad a chance to play in the competition, and we are excited to see what the uncapped players, as well as those who have not been in the mix for a while, bring to the team.
“This squad shows an exciting mix of youth and experience, and while we are under no illusions about the threat Wales poses, we are looking forward to seeing what these players can do.
“Wales put up a good fight in their Six Nations matches against Scotland and Ireland, and they defeated Italy in their final match of the tournament. They also beat Fiji in the Nations Championship before going down against Argentina in a competitive match last week, so they are on the rise and will come out with a point to prove this weekend.”
Erasmus also praised the four debutants, insisting they have earned their opportunity after impressive seasons at club level.
“They all played very well for their franchises this season, and have been working extremely hard at training, while waiting patiently for a chance to play, so we are delighted for them.
“Building squad depth has always been one of our pillars since 2018, and to have such an exciting group of players coming through is fantastic as we continue to build our squad for the future.
“We have full faith in their abilities, and I’m sure the senior guys around them will assist in keeping them calm on the field, so they can show the talent that earned them a place in the squad. Hopefully, we can make it a memorable occasion for them and our loyal supporters this weekend.”
South Africa go into the fixture looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the inaugural Nations Championship, while Wales will be hoping to claim their biggest result under Steve Tandy after showing encouraging signs despite last weekend’s defeat to Argentina.
The match kicks off at 17:40 (SA time) at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban.
Springbok team to face Wales
15. Aphelele Fassi
14. Jaco Williams (Test debut)
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Damian de Allende
11. Kurt-Lee Arendse
10. Vusi Moyo (Test debut)
9. Cobus Reinach
8. Jasper Wiese
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain)
6. Paul de Villiers
5. Ruben van Heerden (Test debut)
4. Cobus Wiese
3. Carlu Sadie (Test debut)
2. Malcolm Marx
1. Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16. Andre-Hugo Venter, 17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Ben-Jason Dixon, 20. Marco van Staden, 21. Herschel Jantjies, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Damian Willemse.
