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The world champions start their test season with two matches against Italy in the Castle Lager Incoming Series on Saturday, 5th July at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria - the first time they have played a fixture at that ground.
The world champions start their test season with two matches against Italy in the Castle Lager Incoming Series on Saturday, 5th July at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria - the first time they have played a fixture at that ground.
The Italian men’s XV side Head Coach Gonzalo Quesada has made seven changes to the side that trounced Rugby World Cup 2027 hopefuls Namibia 73-6 in Windhoek last weekend, as the side looks for an unlikely first-ever win in South Africa, and against the reigning world champions. Italy are ranked 10th, and the Boks still are the top-ranked team. The coach has also opted to rest a number of experienced internationals for this tour, notably Paolo Garbisi, Juan Ignacio Brex, Michele Lamaro, Ange Capuozzo and Tommaso Allan.
The two sides have played each other 16 times, and the Italians claimed their only famous win in Florence in 2016, beating the Boks 20-18.
Ireland
Italy
France
Wales
ItalyExperienced second-rower Niccolò Cannone will captain the side, which features a bolstered front row with Tommaso Di Bartolomeo and Simone Ferrari joining Danilo Fischetti to try and combat a very powerful Bok pack. The second row has also seen changes, with Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs) and Niccolo Cannone starting as locks. Riccardo Favretto, who captained last week was ruled out due to a knee injury sustained in the win over Namibia.
The 9-10 combo remains the same with Fusco and De Ra both from Zebre looking to control things and penetrate the South African defence. Louis Lynagh starts on the right wing.
There are two potential debuts off the bench, with Pablo Dimcheff and David Odiase looking to get off the mark.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is not taking the visitors lightly and said, “They are a quality team with a strong pack and quality backs, and their passion for the team and their country is incredible, so we expect them to throw everything at us.
They also play an exciting brand of rugby, so it will be important for us to stick to our structures and deliver a quality performance all around to get the desired result.”
For the hosts, Vincent Tshituka, who had a good first, albeit uncapped, game against the Barbarians last week in what was a big win for South Africa, will make his test debut in an otherwise experienced match-day 23.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said, “We have a big squad, and we would like to balance the game time within the group, while at the same time maintaining continuity in selection, and we believe this is the team that will be best suited for what we want to achieve against Italy.
We are also fortunate to have a few experienced players back from injury, who will be keen to make their mark in the game.”
Erasmus has again entrusted the captaincy to Jesse Kriel, who will take charge of a Test for the first time after leading the team in Cape Town last weekend’s 54-7 win over the Barbarians. He will have the large looming presence of Eben Etzebeth as vice-captain after the lock has recovered from injury and will earn his 132nd cap.
Of the leadership group, the Bok coach explained, “If one goes through this team, there are so many leaders, and we were impressed with how Jesse accepted the responsibility of wearing the captain’s armband last week. He is a player who leads by example on and off the field, and he thoroughly deserves this honour.”
13 of those who were involved in that win will take to the field again, but for the relatively new faces, Damian Willemse returns to the Bok matchday squad for the first time since the Rugby World Cup final in Paris. Another to make his return is scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, who last played against Ireland in 2024, with Jasper Wiese also back in the mix after having his season cut short while playing in Japan.
The backline has seen a few tweaks, with veteran Handre Pollard at flyhalf, and young scrumhalf Morne van den Berg given another opportunity in a competitive position.
Among the pack, there are three personnel changes. The aforementioned Wiese replaces Jean-Luc du Preez, who misses the game as he and his wife are expecting a child, Etzebeth replaces the injured Jean Kleyn, and Wilco Louw will start at tighthead prop in a beefy front row with Ox Nche and Malcolm Marx.
On the replacements bench, experienced hooker Bongi Mbonambi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Vincent Koch, as well as RG Snyman, and utility forwards Franco Mostert and Kwagga Smith add some serious punch.
In addition to scrumhalf De Klerk, Willie le Roux provides backline cover and will move onto 99 Test caps if he takes the field.
In a raft of updates, it was confirmed that Jean Kleyn is expected to be out for six weeks, but players returning potentially for the second Test against Italy are: Siya Kolisi, Grant Williams, Makazole Mapimpi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, with Jean-Luc du Preez also in contention. Both Lukhanyo Am and Gerhard Steenekamp are on course to be fit for the Rugby Championship in August.
South AfricaSouth AfricaSouth Africa
ArgentinaSouth AfricaSpringbok Squad
15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 39 caps
14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 40 caps
13 Jesse Kriel (captain, Canon Eagles) – 79
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 87 caps
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps
10 Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) – 80 caps
9 Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions)
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)
7 Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – uncapped
6 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 25 caps
5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 66 caps
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
3 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 16 caps
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 76 caps
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps
Replacements:
16 Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 77 caps
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps
18 Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 61 caps
19 RG Snyman (Leinster) – 40 caps
20 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 78 caps
21 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 51 caps
22 Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 58 caps
23 Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 98 caps
Italy Squad
15 Jacopo TRULLA (Zebre Parma, 15 caps)
14 Louis LYNAGH (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)
13 Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 29 caps)
12 Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)
11 Simone GESI (Zebre Parma, 4 caps)
10 Giacomo DA RE (Zebre Parma, 3 caps)
9 Alessandro FUSCO (Zebre Parma, 19 caps)
8 Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 29 caps)
7 Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 33 caps)
6 Alessandro IZEKOR (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
5 Andrea ZAMBONIN (Exeter Chiefs, 10 caps)
4 Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 53 caps) – captain
3 Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 64 caps)
2 Tommaso DI BARTOLOMEO (Zebre Parma, 1 cap)
1 Danilo FISCHETTI (Northampton Saints, 53 caps)
Replacements:
16. Pablo DIMCHEFF (Colomiers Rugby, debutant)
17 Mirco SPAGNOLO (Benetton Rugby, 15 caps)
18 Muhamed HASA (Zebre Parma, 1 cap)
19 Matteo CANALI (Zebre Parma, debutant)
20 Ross VINTCENT (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps)
21 David ODIASE (Zebre Parma, debutant)
22 Alessandro GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
23 Giulio BERTACCINI (Zebre Parma, 2 caps)