South African World Cup heroes return to face Wallabies in Gold Coast

World Cup-winning dynamos Faf de Klerk and Duane Vermeulen are back in the powerful Springboks side for Sunday’s clash against the Wallabies on the Gold Coast.

This will be Vermeulen’s first appearance for South Africa since his starring role in the 2019 World Cup final 22 months ago.

The return of livewire scrumhalf, de Klerk means the Boks have another game controller on deck as well as the kicking leader of their bomb squad.

Coach Jacques Nienaber has made seven changes to his starting line-up.

Try-scoring magician, Cheslin Kolbe is an unfortunate withdrawal with a leg injury.

Captain, Siya Kolisi, Willie le Roux and Eben Etzebeth are also in the starting 15. Former South Africa 7s star, Kwagga Smith is on the reserves.

Nienaber says Australia will be playing in front of a charged-up home crowd, and it will be good to have these experienced players back as they know what it takes to perform in big matches.

South Africa will take on Australia at 10.05pm this Sunday in the Rugby Championship.

[Source: Rugby.com.au]

SOUTH AFRICA SIDE TO FACE AUSTRALIA:

15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 66 caps, 60 pts (12t)

14 – Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks) – 12 caps, 40 pts (8t)

13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 19 caps, 20 pts (4t)

12 – Damian de Allende (Munster) – 51 caps, 30 pts (6t)

11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 18 caps, 80 pts (16t)

10 – Handré Pollard (vice-captain, Montpellier) – 53 caps, 521 pts (6t, 82c, 105p, 4d)

9 – Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks) – 32 caps, 25 pts (5t)

8 – Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls) – 53 caps, 15 pts (3t)

7 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 44 caps, 5pts (1t)

6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 56 caps, 30 pts (6t)

5 – Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 50 caps, 25 pts (5t)

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 90 caps, 15 pts (3t)

3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 43 caps, 5pts (1t)

2 – Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers) – 41 caps, 40 pts (8t)

1 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 52 caps, 5pts (1t)

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 39 caps, 35 pts (7t)

17 – Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks) – 4 caps, 0 pts

18 – Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 24 caps, 0 pts

19 – Marco van Staden (Leicester Tigers) – 6 caps, 0 pts

20 – Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 12 caps, 5 pts (1t)

21 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 5 caps, 0 pts

22 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 14 caps, 25 pts (5t)

23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 12 caps, 5pts (1t)