South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has picked his strongest side to face Italy in Turin on Saturday, Daily Maverick reported. The team is largely the one that beat the All Blacks 3-1 in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry (RGR) series. Many had expected Erasmus to try new combinations against Italy, with Tests against France and Ireland still to come.
The Springboks have six uncapped players in their 37-man touring group, and none made the team. Daily Maverick said they are there to learn the team culture and get used to the Test environment. Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada faces the opposite problem, with 17 players out injured.
Ten Japan-based players are in the matchday 23. They have not played since the RGR series ended on September 12, so the match gives them time on the pitch. The Boks are also still stinging from a 42-38 loss to the Wallabies in Perth six weeks ago. Erasmus made wholesale changes for that game.
Erasmus said the next three matches are "vital" if South Africa want to reach the final weekend. He added that some Japan-based players had travelled early and trained with coaches for several days. The squad held its first training session on Monday afternoon.
Lock Salmaan Moerat makes his first appearance of the season after neck and toe injuries. He partners Ruan Nortjé behind a front row of Ox Nché, Thomas du Toit and Malcolm Marx. Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese form the loose trio. Morné van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu start at halfback.
Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel extend their record centre partnership to 49 games. Ethan Hooker, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse make up the back three. Erasmus opted for a 6/2 split between forwards and backs on the bench.
South Africa lead the Southern Hemisphere standings with the maximum 15 log points. New Zealand also have 15 but a worse points difference. Daily Maverick said Erasmus chose a strong team to earn the maximum five log points against Italy and boost the Boks' points difference.