Springbok prop Boan Venter will step up to provide additional front-row support from the bench for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener against Australia this Saturday, following a last-minute adjustment made by coach Rassie Erasmus on Friday.
This change comes as Jan-Hendrik Wessels has withdrawn after being included in the substitute lineup initially.
Venter, who debuted in the Test arena against Georgia during the Castle Lager Incoming Series, will join Bongi Mbonambi and Asenathi Ntlabakanye as the substitute front row after Wessels experienced a minor injury during practice on Wednesday, resulting in his absence from the game.
The match will be Venter’s first appearance in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship as well as his inaugural battle against Australia.
Kick-off is scheduled for 17h10 and the game will be streamed live on SuperSport.
Updated Springbok roster to face Australia in Johannesburg:
15 Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 12 caps, 35 points (7t)
14 Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 3 caps, 25 pts (5t)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 80 caps, 95 points (19t)
12 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 20 caps, 0 pts
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 26 caps, 100 points (20t)
10 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 20 caps, 108 pts (1t, 35c, 11p)
9 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 93 caps, 60 points (12t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 88 caps, 60 pts (12t)
6 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 27 caps, 15 pts (3t)
5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 67 caps, 25 points (5t)
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 133 caps, 35 points (7t)
3 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 18 caps, 0 pts
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 78 caps, 115 pts (23t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 41 caps, 0 pts
Substitutions:
16 Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 79 caps, 70 points (14t)
17 Boan Venter (Edinburgh) – 1 cap, 5 pts (1t)
18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions) – 1 cap, 0 pts
19 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 79 caps, 20 points (4t)
20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 53 caps, 45 points (9t)
21 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 40 caps, 70 pts (14t)
22 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 14 caps, 35 pts (7t)
23 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 41 caps, 61 points (5t, 9c, 4p, 2 dg)
