Embrose Papier will make his first Test start when the Springboks take on Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The Bulls scrumhalf has made five Test appearances as a substitute this season, but has been given just 27 minutes of game time in total. The 21-year-old replaces Faf de Klerk, who returned to the Sale Sharks after the Boks’ win against France in Paris. Ivan van Zyl, who started against England, is on the bench.
As expected, the absence of the injured Warren Whiteley – who has also been ruled out of next Saturday’s Test against Wales – sees Pieter-Steph du Toit move from the second row to blindside flank and Duane Vermeulen shift to No 8. RG Snyman will wear the No 4 jersey, with Lood de Jager on the bench.
‘Unfortunately, Eben [Etzebeth] is still not fully fit and this gives RG another great opportunity to start against one of the top rugby sides,’ said Bok coach Rassie Erasmus.
‘Moving Duane and Pieter-Steph around in the pack isn’t disrupting at all, as both of them are very experienced and have played for us in these positions earlier in the season.’
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 S’bu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Cheslin Kolbe.
SUPERBRU: Springboks or Scotland?
Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
