Overview
- On Monday Rassie Erasmus named a new-look starting XV with ten changes for South Africa’s Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, which kicks off at 17:40 local time on Saturday.
- Eben Etzebeth has been withdrawn from the July tests for concussion and will be given extended rest under return-to-play protocols, forcing coaches to accelerate exposure for less-capped forwards.
- Pieter-Steph du Toit retains the captaincy and Handré Pollard is paired with Embrose Papier at halfback as Erasmus keeps a small core of experienced players to lead a largely fresh side.
- Several senior Springboks remain unavailable because of hamstring, knee and head injuries after the England win, which prompted enforced changes alongside Erasmus’s planned rotation.
- England are also managing new injury problems after the loss in Johannesburg, with George Furbank out after an appendectomy and doubts over Cadan Murley and Freddie Steward ahead of their next fixtures.