Overview
- Rassie Erasmus named a largely new-look XV to face Italy, retaining only Boan Venter, Siya Kolisi, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse from the win over France.
- Handré Pollard starts at flyhalf with Morne van den Berg at scrumhalf, while Ethan Hooker partners Canan Moodie in midfield and Edwill van der Merwe joins Arendse on the wings.
- Johan Grobbelaar is promoted to start at hooker in a fresh front row with Venter and tighthead Zachary Porthen, and Marco van Staden shifts to No. 8 with Ben-Jason Dixon at No. 7.
- The bench is unchanged apart from Kwagga Smith’s return, RG Snyman is in line for his 49th cap, and Jean Kleyn starts alongside Franco Mostert with Lood de Jager suspended.
- Erasmus reaffirmed a patient pathway for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, noting no team has won a World Cup with a starting flyhalf under 25.