The Springboks are set to clash with Georgia in their last Test match of the incoming tour series at Mbombela Stadium this Saturday. This game is a crucial opportunity for new players to showcase their skills ahead of the Rugby Championship.

Recent Performances

After a dominant 54-7 victory against the Barbarians and a shaky 42-24 win over Italy, the Springboks demonstrated their prowess with a commanding 45-0 win in the second Test against Italy. Coach Rassie Erasmus has been experimenting with new player combinations, led by returning captain Siya Kolisi. These experiments have paid off, particularly in the second Italy Test, where the Springboks successfully executed lineout-style mauls to assert their forward dominance.

Key Match Details

• Date: Saturday, July 19 at 5:10 PM CAT (3:10 PM GMT, 11:10 AM ET)
• Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela, Mpumalanga
• Referee: Matthew Carley
• How to Watch: The match is available on SuperSport.

Team News

South Africa has introduced an uncapped front row consisting of Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, and Neethling Fouche. Kolisi returns from injury to captain the side, partnering with two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit. Only five players from the 45-0 win over Italy retain their spots in the starting lineup: Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Grant Williams, Du Toit, and Ruan Nortje.

Emerging Stars

With Willie le Roux earning his 100th Springbok cap in the second Test against Italy, Aphelele Fassi steps in as the fullback. This lineup, while featuring familiar faces, clearly focuses on the next generation of Springboks rather than the veterans who led the team at the start of Erasmus's tenure.

Springboks Lineup

Starting backs: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams

Starting forwards: 8 Cobus Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Boan Venter

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Damian Willemse

Historical Context

South Africa has only played Georgia twice before, securing a 46-19 victory at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and a 40-9 win in a 2021 Pretoria Test. This upcoming match is another chance for the Springboks to assert their dominance and for emerging players to make their mark.

Stats

• Only four players in the Springbok starting XV have over 30 caps: Eben Etzebeth, Kolisi, Du Toit, and Damian de Allende.
• The backline has a combined 165 caps, the forwards 319, and the bench 437.

This Test match is not just a game but a proving ground for the future stars of South African rugby.