Kolisi returns from injury to lead Springboks in Wales World Cup warm-up

• Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will play his first Test of the year when they meet Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
• Scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse and prop Ox Nche are also set to play their first Tests of the year.
• The Boks have made 11 changes to their starting XV from the one that beat Argentina in Buenos Aires.

A fit-again Siya Kolisi will start for their Springboks when they tackle Wales in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff on Saturday.

The Bok skipper will play his first Test of the year, having recovered from a knee injury he suffered playing for the Sharks back in April.

Elsewhere, scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse will also play his first Test of the season, as well as prop Ox Nche, who is set to make an impact off the bench.

Hendrikse missed recent Test action after the passing of his father, while Nche was laid low by a pectoral muscle injury.

“Siya and Ox have been working
extremely hard on their rehabilitation over the course of several weeks, and
it’s fantastic that everything worked out according to plan to allow us to
select them for this match,” Bok coach Jacques Nienaber said.

“They have two matches to build
up their match fitness before the World Cup, and although it will be important
to manage their load in the match, it’s vital that they return to the field as
they are key players in our set-up.”

The Bok mentor was also delighted
to see Hendrikse return to the fray.

“Jaden was unfortunate not to play in the
last few weeks, but he is a top-class player and he’s been training hard, so we
are pleased that he’ll finally get his chance this weekend. Unlike Siya and Ox,
he’s been training fully with us for weeks, so it’s a matter of getting back
into game mode for him.”

In all, Nienaber made 11 changes to the
starting XV that beat Argentina 24-13 in Buenos Aires two weekends ago.

The front row of Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe (props) and Malcolm Marx (hooker) start together for
the second time this season, while the Munster lock duo Jean Kleyn and RG
Snyman will pack down together for the Boks for the first time.

There is a new look loose-trio, with Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit partnering up with Jasper
Wiese – reforming a combination that
last appeared together against Ireland in November.

In the backline, Hendrikse will
form a halfback combination with flyhalf Manie Libbok, while Damian de Allende
and Jesse Kriel start in midfield. Cheslin Kolbe comes
in on the left wing where he will form an exciting back three with veteran
fullback Willie le Roux and right wing Canan Moodie.

Nienaber opted for a six-two
split in favour of forwards on the bench, where Nche and Vincent Koch will
provide cover at prop and Bongi Mbonambi – who captained the team in the last
Test against Los Pumas – at hooker.

Franco Mostert,
Marco van Staden and Duane Vermeulen will also provide forward cover off the bench, while the two backline reserves are Grant Williams and Damian Willemse. 

Williams can cover scrumhalf and wing, while the versatile Willemse can slot in at flyhalf, centre and fullback.

“We have two Tests left before we
begin our Rugby World Cup campaign and our focus now is to start building
momentum and continuity so that we can peak at the right time for our opening
game against Scotland in just under four weeks,” Nienaber added.

“We gave most of the players in
the expanded squad a run in the last four matches and they are now battle
hardened and we know anyone in this squad can step in and rise to the challenge
whenever they are selected.”

Saturday’s Test is scheduled for 16:15 (SA time).