The Springboks are deadlocked with Wales 1-1 in the July Incoming series after suffering a humbling defeat to the Welsh in Bloemfontein on Saturday. There may have been 14 changes to the starting side and 6 debuts overall, but the team had enough talent to get the win, and failed to do so. Some players rose to the occasion and others showed they are still a way off from the finished product.
The Springboks were always going to revert to their primary team for test 3, but I do believe there will be some minor tweaks to the side that was fielded at Loftus two weeks prior. The Boks suffered a first ever home defeat to Wales and they will know that the fans and media will simply not tolerate a further blemish on their 2022 calendar. Jacques Nienaber will also be aware of the danger of a Welsh side that knows they haven't been buried like many expected and who are in with a shout to win the series.
For this reason, the Boks are likely to throw everything at the Dragons this weekend, to ensure they go into the Rugby Championship with some momentum. The most obvious change comes in at 10, where Handre Pollard, despite on off performance this weekend is likely to retain the 10 jersey. I have restored PSDT at 7, which moves Mostert to the bench. I also elevated Marcell Coetzee to the bench at the expense of Elrigh Louw, whilst Vincent Koch drops out of the 23 for Nyakane. At fullback, the hero of Loftus is moved back to the bench, with Le Roux being given his first start of the season at the back.
The minor tweaks to the match 23 are what I believe the coaches see as their best players, but we will have to wait until mid-day Tuesday to find out just who will be donning the Green & Gold in Cape Town.
Ox Nche
Bongi Mbonambi
Frans Malherbe
Eben Etzebeth
Lood de Jager
Siya Kolisi (c)
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Jasper Wiese
Faf de Klerk
Handre Pollard
Makazole Mapimpi
Damian De Allende
Lukhanyo Am
Cheslin Kolbe
Willie Le Roux
Malcolm Marx
Steven Kitshoff
Trevor Nyakane
Franco Mostert
Kwagga Smith
Marcell Coetzee
Herschel Jantjies
Damian Willemse
"At fullback, the hero of Loftus is moved back to the bench" - the penalty hero but did nothing else in the 1st test. The bench is where he should be!