Lock RG Snyman will join South Africa’s elite 50-cap club when the Springboks face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, with head coach Rassie Erasmus making only two personnel changes to the side that beat France 32–17 a fortnight ago.
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Most first-choice players were rested for last week’s victory over Italy, with Erasmus now reverting to his core combinations for a fixture the Springboks have not won in Dublin since 2012.
Two personnel changes, one positional switch
The first change sees Ruan Nortje elevated from the bench to the starting XV, replacing Lood de Jager, who along with Franco Mostert, was unavailable for selection due to disciplinary appeals.
The second is in the loose forwards, where Kwagga Smith returns to the matchday 23 via the bench.
In the backline, Canan Moodie moves from centre back to the wing to fill the gap left by Kurt-Lee Arendse, who has returned home after sustaining a concussion.
Both Cheslin Kolbe and Cobus Reinach will run out for their 49th Test match, leaving them one game shy of joining Snyman and several team-mates in the 50-cap ‘club’.
Bench heavy with forwards, impact backs
Erasmus has opted for a balanced 5-3 split on the bench, featuring Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Wilco Louw, RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, André Esterhuizen (covering flank and centre), Grant Williams and Manie Libbok.
Ireland remain one of the Springboks’ toughest northern-hemisphere opponents, and Erasmus is clearly banking on cohesion, experience and fresh legs to counter the hosts’ tempo.
Kick-off at the Aviva Stadium is scheduled for 19:40 (SA time).
A look at the SCHOOLS the Springbok squad for Saturday attended:
| Position | Player | School |
| 15 | Damian Willemse | Paul Roos |
| 14 | Canan Moodie | Boland Landbou |
| 13 | Jesse Kriel | Maritzburg College |
| 12 | Damian de Allende | Milnerton |
| 11 | Cheslin Kolbe | Brackenfell |
| 10 | Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu | Bishops |
| 9 | Cobus Reinach | Grey College |
| 8 | Jasper Wiese | Upington |
| 7 | Pieter-Steph du Toit | Swartland |
| 6 | Siya Kolisi | Grey High |
| 5 | Ruan Nortje | Wonderboom |
| 4 | Eben Etzebeth | Tygerberg |
| 3 | Thomas du Toit | Paarl Boys High |
| 2 | Malcolm Marx | KES |
| 1 | Boan Venter | De Aar |
| Reserves | ||
| 16 | Johan Grobbelaar | Paarl Gimnasium |
| 17 | Gerhard Steenekamp | Potchefstroom Gimnasium |
| 18 | Wilco Louw | HTS Drostdy |
| 19 | RG Snyman | Affies |
| 20 | Kwagga Smith | HTS Middelburg |
| 21 | Andre Esterhuizen | Klerksdorp |
| 22 | Grant Williams | Paarl Gimnasium |
| 23 | Manie Libbok | Outeniqua |
In the match-day 23-man squad only Paarl Gimnasium boast two old boys. No other school has more than one representative.
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