Coach Mzwandile Stick has sprung several surprises, and included 14 capped Springboks, in the South Africa A match-day 23 to face Munster in Cork on Thursday.
Loose forwards Dan and Jean-Luc du Preez have been called up and straight into duty as Stick took two players from the Bok tour squad who trained in Dublin last week for an opening defeat by Ireland, prop Thomas du Toit and lock Jason Jenkins.
Aphelele Fassi, Cornal Hendricks, Johan Goosen and Herschel Jantjies are the capped Boks in the backline, Jean-Luc du Preez and Elrigh Louw in the loose trio as Ruan Nortje and Jenkins partner in the second row, while Du Toit, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Joseph Dweba all bring their Test experience to a strong and physical front row.
Du Toit will captain the team, with three more Boks on the replacements bench in Dan du Preez, Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Grant Williams.
ALSO: Rassie not on hotlist for England job
The backline will be boosted by exciting Stormers wings Leolin Zas and Suleiman Hartzenberg, while former Junior Springbok captain Phepsi Buthelezi will run out at openside flank.
Hooker Andre-Hugo Venter, props Simphiwe Matanzima and Sazi Sandi, with former Junior Springbok utility backs Sanele Nohamba and Gianni Lombard, complete the replacements.
Rassie Erasmus, who was originally expected to join Stick and his coaching team for the midweek clash at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, is with the Springbok team in France in preparation to face Les Bleus on Saturday.
“The SA A coaches had the luxury of spending the week with the Springboks last week, where they attended all the coaches’ meetings and training sessions to give them a taste of Test rugby and what they will expect this week, and this allowed us to hit the ground running,” said Stick.
“We have named an equally exciting team and we have a number of leaders in core positions. Every one of our players will also want to make the most of this opportunity to throw their names in the hat for World Cup selection, which will serve as an extra motivational factor to showcase their talent.”
South Africa A – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Thomas du Toit (c), 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Subs: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Dan du Preez, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Gianni Lombard.
MORE: When Bok dirt trackers were last let loose
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
