The Springboks are set to tackle Japan at Wembley Stadium this Saturday in the first of five November Tests, which will have a significant impact on their World Rugby rankings.
South Africa cannot improve their No 1 ranking position this weekend due to the lowly position of Japan, but they will want to ensure they avoid any shock result at all costs.
It means that Rassie Erasmus is unlikely to name a completely ‘second-string’ side, but he will probably want to enable some of the ‘newer’ members of the squad the opportunity to bank some more game-time.
With that in mind, it will be particularly interesting to see whether former Junior Springbok prop and captain Zachary Porthen could have an opportunity to make his Test debut, perhaps off the bench.
With Damian Willemse also said to be carrying a bit of an injury issue, there could need to be a big call made at fullback.
The Springbok team announcement for the first Test on the end-of-year tour is scheduled for 17:00 (SA time) on Tuesday.
Is this how the Springboks will line up against Japan?
Springboks: 15 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard.
Touring squad
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Players on standby:
Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Ulster), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sebastian De Klerk (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
