Springboks name uncapped quartet in team to face Wales
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Pieter-Steph du Toit again skippers the South Africa side to take on Wales in Durban
South Africa have handed chances to four uncapped players as Rassie Erasmus shuffles his pack again for the meeting with Wales.
A heavily-rotated Springboks side made it two wins from two in the Nations Championship as they overcame Scotland in a tough battle in Pretoria, and Erasmus again takes the opportunity to look at the depth of his squad.
20-year-old playmaker Vusi Moyo is given a first opportunity at fly half, with Sharks teammate Jaco Williams installed on the wing for his first cap.
Vusi Moyo starts at fly half for South Africa against Wales (Getty)
Carlu Sadie, a key figure in Bordeaux Begles’ back-to-back Champions Cup crowns, starts at tighthead, while fellow French-based forward Ruben van Heerden (Montpellier) starts in the second row.
Pieter-Steph du Toit again captains the side with Siya Kolisi not involved.
“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,” said Erasmus ahead of the clash in Durban.
“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.”
Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Andre Esterhuizen, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard and Ox Nche were all unavailable for selection due to injury.
Wales have beaten Fiji and lost to Argentina in their two Nations Championship outings so far and will reveal their team later in the week.
South Africa XV to face Wales in Durban (Saturday 18 July, 4.40pm BST): 1 Gerhard Steenekamp, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Carlu Sadie; 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 Ruben van Heerden; 6 Paul de Villiers, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt.), 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Cobus Reinach, 10 Vusi Moyo; 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Jaco Williams; 15 Aphelele Fassi.
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.