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Writer's pictureNicholas Halsey

Probable team for the decider against Wales

The Springboks are deadlocked with Wales 1-1 in the July Incoming series after suffering a humbling defeat to the Welsh in Bloemfontein on Saturday. There may have been 14 changes to the starting side and 6 debuts overall, but the team had enough talent to get the win, and failed to do so. Some players rose to the occasion and others showed they are still a way off from the finished product.


The Springboks were always going to revert to their primary team for test 3, but I do believe there will be some minor tweaks to the side that was fielded at Loftus two weeks prior. The Boks suffered a first ever home defeat to Wales and they will know that the fans and media will simply not tolerate a further blemish on their 2022 calendar. Jacques Nienaber will also be aware of the danger of a Welsh side that knows they haven't been buried like many expected and who are in with a shout to win the series.



For this reason, the Boks are likely to throw everything at the Dragons this weekend, to ensure they go into the Rugby Championship with some momentum. The most obvious change comes in at 10, where Handre Pollard, despite on off performance this weekend is likely to retain the 10 jersey. I have restored PSDT at 7, which moves Mostert to the bench. I also elevated Marcell Coetzee to the bench at the expense of Elrigh Louw, whilst Vincent Koch drops out of the 23 for Nyakane. At fullback, the hero of Loftus is moved back to the bench, with Le Roux being given his first start of the season at the back.


The minor tweaks to the match 23 are what I believe the coaches see as their best players, but we will have to wait until mid-day Tuesday to find out just who will be donning the Green & Gold in Cape Town.



  1. Ox Nche

  2. Bongi Mbonambi

  3. Frans Malherbe

  4. Eben Etzebeth

  5. Lood de Jager

  6. Siya Kolisi (c)

  7. Pieter-Steph du Toit

  8. Jasper Wiese

  9. Faf de Klerk

  10. Handre Pollard

  11. Makazole Mapimpi

  12. Damian De Allende

  13. Lukhanyo Am

  14. Cheslin Kolbe

  15. Willie Le Roux

  16. Malcolm Marx

  17. Steven Kitshoff

  18. Trevor Nyakane

  19. Franco Mostert

  20. Kwagga Smith

  21. Marcell Coetzee

  22. Herschel Jantjies

  23. Damian Willemse

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1 Comment


Gregory Fendt
Gregory Fendt
Jul 11, 2022

"At fullback, the hero of Loftus is moved back to the bench" - the penalty hero but did nothing else in the 1st test. The bench is where he should be!

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