Springbok Team To Face Italy: Moerat Returns For Turin Clash

Salmaan Moerat will make his first Springbok appearance of the season after coach Rassie Erasmus named an experienced match-day squad for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash against Italy in Turin.

Moerat returns after neck and toe injuries kept him out of the competition’s opening phase and the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series. He partners Ruan Nortje at lock, with Siya Kolisi captaining the side.

The Springboks enter the second phase of the competition leading the Southern Hemisphere standings on points difference, level with New Zealand on 15 points.

Erasmus Retains An Experienced Starting Side

Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Thomas du Toit form the front row. Kolisi joins Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese in the loose trio.

Morne van den Berg starts at scrumhalf alongside flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel form the midfield partnership, with Ethan Hooker and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wings. Damian Willemse starts at fullback.

Six-Two Split On The Bench

Erasmus has selected six forwards and two backs among the replacements.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw provide front-row cover. Lood de Jager, Cameron Hanekom and Paul de Villiers complete the forward options.

Grant Williams and Manie Libbok cover the backline.

Three Matches Shape The Springboks’ Tour

After Italy, South Africa face France in Paris on Friday, 13 November, followed by Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, 21 November.

The matches will influence the Springboks’ progress towards the Nations Championship Finals Weekend, which concludes on Sunday, 29 November.

“We have three challenging matches ahead if we want to advance to the last game of the Finals Weekend, so our next three matches are going to be vital to lay a strong foundation for the tour,” Erasmus said via Springbok Rugby.

Preparations have begun in Italy, with some Japan-based players arriving before the rest of the group.

Erasmus believes players returning from demanding club campaigns, alongside those arriving fresh, give the squad a useful balance for the European fixtures.

Six Uncapped Players Join The Travelling Squad

Riley Norton, Emmanuel Tshituka, Luan Giliomee, Yaqeen Ahmed, Markus Muller and Sebastian de Klerk are the six uncapped players in the travelling squad.

They will be introduced to the Springboks’ structures, with opportunities to impress potentially arising during the tour.

Springbok Team To Face Italy

15 Damian Willemse
14 Kurt-Lee Arendse
13 Jesse Kriel
12 Damian de Allende
11 Ethan Hooker
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
9 Morne van den Berg
8 Jasper Wiese
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
6 Siya Kolisi
5 Ruan Nortje
4 Salmaan Moerat
3 Thomas du Toit
2 Malcolm Marx
1 Ox Nche

Replacements

16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
17 Gerhard Steenekamp
18 Wilco Louw
19 Lood de Jager
20 Cameron Hanekom
21 Paul de Villiers
22 Grant Williams
23 Manie Libbok

South Africa’s Record Against Italy

The Springboks have won 18 of their 19 Tests against Italy, a win rate of 94.7%.

South Africa have scored 883 points and 117 tries, conceding 233 points and 21 tries. Their highest score and largest winning margin came in a 101–0 victory.

Read Inbound SA online